Broncos 2009 Free Agents

[montrose]

After making a post about next year's RB situation, I got to thinking about our FA crop. Here are (at least according to my research) some of the Broncos marquee free agents this offseason. Who should the Broncos keep?

MLB Nate Webster
DE Ebenzer Ekuban
HB Michael Pittman
DT Kenny Peterson
WR Darrell Jackson
MLB Mario Haggan
HB Tatum Bell
QB Patrick Ramsey
WR Chad Jackson
CB Karl Paymah
FS Vernon Fox

12/30 EDIT - I forgot FS Marlon McCree

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by montrose

After making a post about next year's RB situation, I got to thinking about our FA crop. Here are (at least according to my research) some of the Broncos marquee free agents this offseason. Who should the Broncos keep?

MLB Nate Webster
DE Ebenzer Ekuban
HB Michael Pittman
DT Kenny Peterson
WR Darrell Jackson
MLB Mario Haggan
HB Tatum Bell
QB Patrick Ramsey
WR Chad Jackson
CB Karl Paymah
FS Vernon Fox

Def keep:

Ekuban

Keep "on the cheap" if nothing better is available on the open market:

Chad Jackson or Darrell Jackson (cheaper one)
Nate Webster
Patrick Ramsey
Kenny Peterson

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

Def keep:

Ekuban

Keep "on the cheap" if nothing better is available on the open market:

Chad Jackson or Darrell Jackson (cheaper one)
Nate Webster
Patrick Ramsey
Kenny Peterson

Cheap being the operative word, even for Ekuban.

[Smiling Assassin27]

i think we try to keep

Webster (solid backup LB)
Ekuban (solid d-line rotation guy)
Haggan (special teams warrior)

As for Ramsey, NO WAY! He is a waste of roster space and money. Paymah would have an outside shot of re-upping, but there are plenty of FA's that are as good or better that are comparable in price at CB. Darrell Jackson and Chad Jackson haven't really shown much, so should be paid like a #4 or #5 WR at best.

[Kaylore]

That's not a bad list at all. We should be golden this year.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by montrose

After making a post about next year's RB situation, I got to thinking about our FA crop. Here are (at least according to my research) some of the Broncos marquee free agents this offseason. Who should the Broncos keep?

MLB Nate Webster
DE Ebenzer Ekuban
HB Michael Pittman
DT Kenny Peterson
WR Darrell Jackson
MLB Mario Haggan
HB Tatum Bell
QB Patrick Ramsey
WR Chad Jackson
CB Karl Paymah
FS Vernon Fox

I think Pittman is done, put a fork in him. I love his attitude, but it sounds like he has a career ending neck problem to me.

Ramsey can walk.

Darrell Jackson can walk, or bring him in for TC, but I bet he doesn't make the squad.

Everyone else can be had on the cheap.

If we have the balls to choose an RB high in the draft, Bell is all but gone. We always know where to find him...

I kind of wish we could cut Webster, pick a solid MLB in the draft, and have Larsen be the backup MLB next year, but Webster isn't too costly (especially compared to Niko).

[bowtown]

If cheap, I'd like to keep in order:

1. DE Ebenzer Ekuban
2. DT Kenny Peterson
3. MLB Nate Webster
4. MLB Mario Haggan
5. WR Chad Jackson
6. HB Michael Pittman
7. FS Vernon Fox

Pretty much all would have to be for depth and camp competition. I don't want to see any of these guys starting next year.

[JCMElway]

MLB Nate Webster -- Nope
DE Ebenzer Ekuban -- yes, a leader and productive
HB Michael Pittman -- depends on the price tag. Good locker room guy, though
DT Kenny Peterson -- Yes
WR Darrell Jackson -- Hell No.
MLB Mario Haggan -- Yes, good hustle and productionfrom a street free agent
HB Tatum Bell -- Sure, why not. Let him compete in training camp
QB Patrick Ramsey -- Depends on who else is out there. I would like to see an upgrade, though.
WR Chad Jackson -- Yes, plenty of upside
CB Karl Paymah -- sure, if the price is right
FS Vernon Fox -- sure, for the right price

[Mountain Bronco]

Originally Posted by bowtown

If cheap, I'd like to keep in order:

1. DE Ebenzer Ekuban
2. DT Kenny Peterson
3. MLB Nate Webster
4. MLB Mario Haggan
5. WR Chad Jackson
6. HB Michael Pittman
7. FS Vernon Fox

Pretty much all would have to be for depth and camp competition. I don't want to see any of these guys starting next year.

Good list except for Webster. Our D has gotten worse as he has gotten back. I have no use for him even if he was free.

All others need to be minimum type deals.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Cheap being the operative word, even for Ekuban.

Ecuban is still the best DE on the team.

[montrose]

My thoughts:

MLB Nate Webster - Only at the league minimum. I actually like him as a backup, but we've got enough backup MLB's who play better special teams. With that, Shanny's appears to be a fan of his so I wouldn't be shocked at all if he's our starting MLB again next season.

DE Ebenzer Ekuban - I'd like him back at the same cost we payed him this year, but I would in no way get into a bidding war of any sorts for Eb. While he is our best DE, that's no reason to overpay for his value.

HB Michael Pittman - Considering no one picked him up until we did in the spring on a minimum deal, and he's coming off a major neck injury, I doubt we'd have any trouble getting him back on another minimum deal to compete for a job - although I wouldn't at all be surprised if he retired.

DT Kenny Peterson - I don't think he'll be too hard to keep, we should resign him relatively soon as he's a decent backup DT.

WR Darrell Jackson - Camp invite.

MLB Mario Haggan - I think he'll get a deal similar to the one Winborn got after last season based on his play this year.

HB Tatum Bell - I've got no problem giving him a camp invite but I see Hillis/Torain/Alridge as the future of our backfield.

QB Patrick Ramsey - This one's tough. I think Ramsey's such garbage, but I'm not sure whose available in the FA market. I believe Hackney's PS eligibility may be up, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. I'll say this, anything over the league minimum is robbery.

WR Chad Jackson - Camp invite.

CB Karl Paymah - I like KP as a man-cover guy but it's time to move on. We'll draft or sign a guy to go with Bell and JMFW.

FS Vernon Fox - Camp invite.

Originally Posted by cmhargrove

I kind of wish we could cut Webster, pick a solid MLB in the draft, and have Larsen be the backup MLB next year, but Webster isn't too costly (especially compared to Niko).

I think Larsen will be our starting FB next season, just a hunch based on the fact we're using the position less and less, Shanny doesn't value it much, and Larsen will be active because of special teams. I feel like we're in a bit of a bind at the MLB spot as I consider Webster a good backup and love Niko and Haggan on special teams - but don't consider any of them quality starters. I'd ideally like to see a bulked up Woodyard playing the Mike, flanked by DJ and Boss with Winborn, Haggan and Niko on special teams.

[broncosteven]

DE Ebenzer Ekuban
DT Kenny Peterson
MLB Mario Haggan
one of the 2 WR's - Pickem.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by montrose

My thoughts:

...

I think Larsen will be our starting FB next season, just a hunch based on the fact we're using the position less and less, Shanny doesn't value it much, and Larsen will be active because of special teams. I feel like we're in a bit of a bind at the MLB spot as I consider Webster a good backup and love Niko and Haggan on special teams - but don't consider any of them quality starters. I'd ideally like to see a bulked up Woodyard playing the Mike, flanked by DJ and Boss with Winborn, Haggan and Niko on special teams.

The reason we have gone away from it was injuries. Losing 4 RB's, moving FB to RB then losing him kinda hurts.

If we had a FB our run game would be better.

I think Haggan has shown enough to come back next year for depth.

[PRBronco]

I think Jay is still young enough that he would benefit from a veteran backup, versus us using like a 7th rounder on someone. Anyone out there better than Ramsey?

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by PRBronco

I think Jay is still young enough that he would benefit from a veteran backup, versus us using like a 7th rounder on someone. Anyone out there better than Ramsey?

The problem with Ramsey is that, while he's a veteran, he never was able to develop as a quarterback in Washington. Spurrier changed quarterbacks like he changed his socks. Therefore, Ramsey can't really tell Cutler how to get through a 16-week season with any success. Fortunately, he's learning how to do that on his own...

[PRBronco]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

The problem with Ramsey is that, while he's a veteran, he never was able to develop as a quarterback in Washington. Spurrier changed quarterbacks like he changed his socks. Therefore, Ramsey can't really tell Cutler how to get through a 16-week season with any success. Fortunately, he's learning how to do that on his own...

Nope, sorry, Ramsey was a first round draft pick and therefore is good. Just ask Al Davis

[bowtown]

Originally Posted by PRBronco

I think Jay is still young enough that he would benefit from a veteran backup, versus us using like a 7th rounder on someone. Anyone out there better than Ramsey?

I would love to somehow get Garcia in here, and I'm sure Shanahan would too. I doubt he'll go anywhere that he doesn't have a chance of starting though, and he'll probably be asking for more money than he's really worth to us.

[Hotrod]

That is a great list. Not really anyone who would kill us to lose nobody who will be to expensive to sign if we wish.

[montrose]

Originally Posted by broncosteven

The reason we have gone away from it was injuries. Losing 4 RB's, moving FB to RB then losing him kinda hurts.

If we had a FB our run game would be better.

I think that's contributed, but it doesn't change the fact Shanny doesn't value the position that much. Before the RB's went down, we were using less of the FB position than in past years. And for all of Hillis' receiving skills, keep in mind Shanny went with Larsen over him for a few weeks; the first game Hillis took back over at FB was the Miami game when he had a big day catching passes - and the next week at Cleveland we we're back to not using him all that much at FB.

I expect Larsen to be our FB, maybe Pinnock but the fact Larsen is such a special teams demon but probably our 3rd MLB means he makes more sense to the coaching staff. Unless a high draft choice/free agent is brought in or Torain blows up beyond belief - I highly doubt we'll see Shanny playing Hillis at the FB spot anymore than part-time, likely never. Shanny did mention that he thinks Hillis could be used like Indy uses Dallas Clark, but that was before we let him really tote the rock against the Jets and Chiefs.

Hillis looked especially good out of singleback sets, my personal wish would be for Hillis to be our singleback but play some FB with Torain as the TB to take advantage of his receiving skills. I see Hillis as a jack of all trades type player, although I find it unlikely he'll be used in that way.

My prediction remains Hillis and Torain as our top 2 HB's with Alrdige as the change-of-pace guy with Larsen playing the few snaps at FB (as I expect to continue seeing 2 TE and 3 WR packages next year).

[Br0nc0Buster]

Originally Posted by montrose

After making a post about next year's RB situation, I got to thinking about our FA crop. Here are (at least according to my research) some of the Broncos marquee free agents this offseason. Who should the Broncos keep?

MLB Nate Webster
DE Ebenzer Ekuban
HB Michael Pittman
DT Kenny Peterson
WR Darrell Jackson
MLB Mario Haggan
HB Tatum Bell
QB Patrick Ramsey
WR Chad Jackson
CB Karl Paymah
FS Vernon Fox

We should keep EE and Kenny Peterson
I think if Webster, Paymah, Chad Jackson, and Ramsey can be back for not much money, then keep them.
The rest I could care less about

[DarkHorse]

Do we have to pick any of them?

[s0phr0syne]

My picks would be:

DE Ebenzer Ekuban
DT Kenny Peterson
MLB Mario Haggan
QB Patrick Ramsey
WR Chad Jackson
CB Karl Paymah
FS Vernon Fox


Looks like everyone else pretty much wants to see this group back in camp. A lot of people have Webster on their want list, but I'm leaving him out because a) I don't see how we don't address MLB aggressively this offseason either through FA or draft and b) Webster being on this team takes away snaps from someone who might actually develop. I've seen more from Haggan already than from Webster, IMHO. He's just got nothing up in his head in terms of play recog., coverage awareness, or even tackling ability.

[Traveler]

Didn't Chad Jackson sign a 2 year contract?

[Rock Chalk]

We resign Eb. If we dont thats just another position to fill, one that we are notoriously bad at finding. Eb isnt all world but he's definately an all around player at stopping the run and probably the best pass rusher who can play full time. If Eb hadnt gotten injured last year I think we would have been better off this year.

Kenny Peterson is a pretty good DT IMO. Keep him too.

Everyone else throw to the curb.

[Dedhed]

I wouldn't be bent about losing all of them. We need to make a run at one defensive stud, and none of those guys are impact players.