Broncos' Week in Review: Miller-less champs back on the field

The Orange & Blue’s first offseason workout session is in the rear-view mirror and draft week is upon us.

Before we proceed, though, here’s a look at back at the eventful week that was in Broncos Country:

Headline: As expected, Von Miller a no-show as Broncos open offseason workouts

Bottom line: As expected, the Super Bowl 50 MVP didn’t include a mid-April Dove Valley stop on his celebrity tour, following in the footsteps of the last three Denver players – Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas – who received the franchise tag. All three still wound up reaching long-term contract agreements before the deadline, and Miller is expected to follow suit here as well and become the league’s highest-paid defensive player despite some sensationalized national reports last week that the two sides are as much as $20 million apart on a total compensation package. Of course, it almost was universally expected that Brock Osweiler would strike a long-term deal with the Orange & Blue as well, but the big differences here are that Miller wants to remain in the Mile High City and the Broncos have a couple of franchise-tag seasons at their disposal, too.

Headline: Ronnie Hillman staying in Denver on one-year deal

Bottom line: Yeah we know No. 23 doesn’t always pass the eye test, and his postseason performance this past winter (32-54 rushing, 1-7 receiving) most-definitely left a lot to be desired but he did lead the team in rushing with a career year (863 yards) and had a team-most 23 rushes of 10-or-more yards. Hillman signed a team-friendly one-year, $2 million deal with only $500,000 guaranteed, and his speed to the edge is a strong complement to should-be No. 1 back C.J. Anderson.

Headline: John Elway comes in third in USA Today ranking of NFL GMs

Bottom line: For the Win ranks Elway behind Bill Belichick (no argument there given Hoodie’s more extensive body of work) and the Packers’ Ted Thompson (Elway’s moves certainly accomplished more the last five years), but third is higher than even most die-hard Broncos backers could’ve expected five years ago, given the uneven track records of the majority of former on-field NFL standouts in the front office. Elway not winning the single-season awards in 2012 or last season, though, is a crime.

Headline: Kicker Brandon McManus signs tender

Bottom line: McManus agreed to his exclusive-rights tender, which is no small move for the Broncos after the second-year kicker finished with one of the league’s top kickoff touchback percentages (69.7 percent) and was clutch-plus in the playoffs, connecting on 13 of his kicks, including 10-of-10 field goals.

Headline: Demaryius Thomas expecting a better 2016

Bottom line: So is Broncos Country. If it’s possible for a 105-catch, 1,304-yard season to be a down year, Thomas’ 2015 fit the bill as it also included nine drops and was followed by a no-show of a postseason (7 receptions-60 yards-no TDs). Factor in his five-year, $70 million contract and (for now, pending Miller’s deal) team-leading $15.2M cap hit, and there’s every reason for Broncos fans to expect more from their team’s No. 1 wideout this coming season.