Denver Broncos who are in their contract year

[BowlenBall]

2015 Free Agents
WR Demaryius Thomas
TE Julius Thomas
CB Chris Harris
DT Terrance Knighton
WR Wes Welker
FS Rahim Moore
OL Orlando Franklin
DT Kevin Vickerson
TE Jacob Tamme
TE Virgil Green
LB Nate Irving
SS Quinton Carter
DT Mitch Unrein
OC Will Montgomery
OT Winston Justice
TE Joel Dreessen
DT Sione Fua

2015 Restricted Free Agents
LS Aaron Brewer
CB Tony Carter
SS Duke Ihenacho
LB Steven Johnson

2015 Exclusive Rights Free Agent
LB Brandon Marshall


Observations / Musings:

1) 8 probable starters and 22 total Broncos are in a contract year in 2014 -- this seems exceptionally high, doesn't it?

2) This is nothing but good news for the upcoming season, though -- contract-year players usually put noticeably more effort into preseason preparation, and tend to leave all they've got on the field (a la Eric Decker in 2013).

3) Conversely, contract-year players generally play through minor- to medium-level injuries, and may often be out on the field operating at somewhat less than 100% towards the end of the season.

4) Our top 4 tight ends are all in a contract year, which is odd....

5) Forget the Thomas Twins, the Broncos need to lock down Aaron Brewer to a long-term contract now. Can't risk letting those lovely locks walk!

[LikeABoss5820]

Really there's only 6 key guys: Franklin, Moore, Knighton, Julius, DT, Harris.

You can argue/throw in Tamme, Green (i'd try to keep him for depth)

If i had my way, i'd try to keep DT, JT, Knighton and Harris.

And a couple depth guys.

Replace the rest with the draft.

Latimer/Welker.

Barrow/Irving.

Schofield/Justice.

Paradis/Montgomery.

Are some internal replacements.

[ludo21]

OTH that means there should be cap space coming off the books thus money to sign the guys we want.

[LikeABoss5820]

OTH that means there should be cap space coming off the books thus money to sign the guys we want.

Yes and No, some players salary increase (Manning if he returns, Ward, Ware, Sanders goes up 1 mil, some others)

But they will have some room to keep some of them.

[hades]

Easy stuff for Elway to take care of!

[CEH]

Be nice if there was a spreadsheet so we know how Denver is positioned in terms of salary cap

[Kaylore]

Knighton is going to be hard to re-sign. If we can get one of the Thomas' for cheap, likely OJ, then that may help us get the rest of these squared away.

[Requiem]

Priority: D. Thomas, J. Thomas, Knighton

Consider: Harris, Q. Carter, Moore, Green

RFA: Ihenacho, Brewer

Harris, Carter, Moore all have to prove that they are back to play after their injuries. I like Chris Harris a lot, but with the Broncos drafting Roby, Webster and signing Talib I believe they have their core three CBs of the future. Not sure they can afford to give Harris the contract he would likely command if he plays extraordinarily well this year, and that money might be better served retaining a place where we cannot truly afford to lose a player. Keeping Pot Roast is important, because we will still need to draft or sign a FA defensive tackle next year.

[Pony Boy]

[LikeABoss5820]

Priority: D. Thomas, J. Thomas, Knighton

Consider: Harris, Q. Carter, Moore, Green

RFA: Ihenacho, Brewer

Harris, Carter, Moore all have to prove that they are back to play after their injuries. I like Chris Harris a lot, but with the Broncos drafting Roby, Webster and signing Talib I believe they have their core three CBs of the future. Not sure they can afford to give Harris the contract he would likely command if he plays extraordinarily well this year, and that money might be better served retaining a place where we cannot truly afford to lose a player. Keeping Pot Roast is important, because we will still need to draft or sign a FA defensive tackle next year.

I'd probably agree with this.

Not to mention there isnt many other DT's under contract next year even if Austin makes the team (he signed a 2-yr deal).

Talib, Roby, Webster, vet FA, draft pick isnt a horrible top-5 if Harris left.

[LikeABoss5820]

Knighton is going to be hard to re-sign. If we can get one of the Thomas' for cheap, likely OJ, then that may help us get the rest of these squared away.

TE money isnt too crazy, around 6-8 is what it should take unless his agent got crazy.

DT will get bank regardless.

How much you think Knighton costs, 6 mil a year seems about right?

[CEH]

TE money isnt too crazy, around 6-8 is what it should take unless his agent got crazy.

DT will get bank regardless.

How much you think Knighton costs, 6 mil a year seems about right?

I think DT will get at least $40 MM guarenteed . Denver needs to pony up .

[LikeABoss5820]

I think DT will get at least $40 MM guarenteed . Denver needs to pony up .

I dont know about that but 5 years, 60-70 million is a starting point.

Worst-case, they tag him and try to sign him like they did with Clady.

[Shananahan]

How much you think Knighton costs, 6 mil a year seems about right?

If he picks up where he left off I'd think it would be higher than that.

Knighton would be nice, but if the coaching staff remains intact on that side of the ball I would shuffle him behind Harris in the pecking order.

[BroncoMan4ever]

TE money isnt too crazy, around 6-8 is what it should take unless his agent got crazy.

DT will get bank regardless.

How much you think Knighton costs, 6 mil a year seems about right?

I don't think Knighton is signing for less than 8million a year. Some of the outrageous contracts that DT's have gotten the past couple seasons are going to make him want to get paid.