Broncos Roundtable: Who should be Denver's No. 1 target in free agency?

NFL free agency unofficially begins on Monday, Mar. 13 with the start of the legal tampering period. Two days later, on Mar. 15, the new league year officially kicks off and teams across the country are allowed to sign free agents to contracts.

Should Sean Payton and George Paton spend their cap space on rebuilding the Denver Broncos’ offense or continue to put resources on the defensive side?

The DNVR Broncos Crew gives their take on who the Broncos’ primary target should be when free agency begins.

Who should the Broncos’ No. 1 priority be in free agency?

Zac: Mike McGlinchey — I’ll take any of the big four tackles in this year’s free agent class: Orlando Brown, Kaleb McGary, Jawaan Taylor or McGlinchey. All four are at the top of my list. And all four should all be at the top of Sean Payton and George Paton’s free agency list too.

McGlinchey, though, is the sweet spot of an above-average offensive tackle at the right price. Expected to sign for around $15 million per year, the Broncos would not have to break the bank to sign the former first-round pick. In fact, at that price, McGlinchey would be cheaper, and better, than Garett Bolles.

The Broncos have struggled mightily at their right tackle spot for nearly a full decade. By ponying up $15 million for McGlinchey they would have an immediate fix at the position for years to come. McGlinchey isn’t perfect by any means—he’s a dominant run blocker but can improve in pass protection—but he would instantly upgrade Denver’s biggest need on the team at a fairly reasonable price too.

McGlinchey should receive a call with a 303 area code right when free agency begins.

RK: Orlando Brown — The tackle position has been a nightmare for the Denver Broncos for a long time and one of the best young players at the position is available. It should be a no-brainer for Denver to take a large chunk of the available cap space they have to target Orlando Brown.

What makes this interesting is Brown’s insistence on playing at left tackle, which initiated his trade from the Baltimore Ravens to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first place. The question is if he gets the left-tackle money that he was seeking in the first place on the open market, would he be willing to move back to his more natural position on the right side? If not, the Broncos should seriously consider making the move and either moving Garett Bolles to the right side or trading Bolles and using the cap space that would free up to target another right tackle in free agency.

It’s rare for a tackle of this quality to be on the market, the Broncos should pounce on the opportunity.

Hank: James Bradberry — What’s better than an All-Pro corner? Two All-Pro corners.

No cornerback in the NFL got his hands on more passes than James Bradberry last season, and Bradberry’s 20 interceptions and pass breakups were actually his fewest since 2019. With that much production, you’d think Bradberry was being picked on. Nope. Only four cornerbacks in the NFL gave up fewer catches per coverage snap than Pat Surtain II, and Bradberry was one of them.

Bradberry would come cheaper than Jamel Dean—who would also be an incredible pickup—and the Broncos could easily structure his deal so it expires before it’s time to pay Surtain.

Pick up a tight end eraser like Vonn Bell and the Broncos might not give up a completion until Surtain is making $25 million per year.