Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with NFL Free Agency. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.
T.J. Lang is the ideal Midwestern football player. Not only was he born and raised in Michigan, he attended Eastern Michigan and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Additionally, Lang is just as tough as America’s heartland, only missing three games in 2016 due to a fractured foot.
While Lang has stated that he would prefer to stay in the Midwest with the Packers, if a deal cannot be worked out before March 9, he will be one of the best offensive guards on the market. In fact, according to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, Lang is the 20th best player in free agency and the second best guard in this year’s class.
Strengths
Officially standing at 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, Lang has the size and strength to play any position along the offensive line, and, as a matter of fact, he nearly has. Outside of center, Lang has proven over his career, both collegiate and professional, that he can play on either side of the line at either tackle or guard.
Although Lang will be signed as a guard during free agency, his versatility would not only be useful for depth purposes, it points to his high football IQ. His versatility would also allow him to fit into any offensive system that offensive coordinator Mike McCoy will eventually implement.
Along with being one of the top guards in the league, the nine-year vet is coming off of the best year in his career, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
Weaknesses
Even though Lang has proved to be durable throughout his career—playing in 119 of the possible 128 in his career—injuries were a big concern for him last season. From a fractured foot to a hip injury that later required surgery in the offseason, it was difficult to keep up with all of Lang’s injuries in 2016. At 30 years old in September, while Lang isn’t old, it is important for teams to be wary of an aging player with mounting injuries.
If Lang’s body physically checks out in free agency, there is no doubt he will have the opportunity to be paid like a top lineman on the open market. According to one source in the NFL, Lang could receive $8 to $10 million in free agency, a very steep price to pay for a guard.
How he fits in Denver
In Denver, Lang would be welcomed with open arms as he would be an immediate upgrade to either guard position. Last year with the Packers, Lang played all 13 of his games at right guard and would likely take that position with the Broncos, however, he could work just as fine at left guard.
If general manger John Elway and the Denver Broncos brought in Lang during the offseason, it would be with the intent that he would be a mainstay at guard for many years to come.
