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While NFL talk has all been on what transpired at the annual NFL Scouting Combine, the free-agent signing period is just a little over two weeks away.
Does any team have more crucial decisions to make regarding free agency than the Denver Broncos? Several key players are set to hit the open market and John Elway will have to decide who—and how much—he wants to offer contracts.
If Elway is going to return to the Super Bowl and win it, the window is slowly closing, at least with his current team. He knows he has to get it right this season, and the pressure is on.
That makes this free-agent signing period one of the most important in team history.
Though much will still transpire over the next two weeks, here is some of the latest news as it relates to the Broncos and free agency.
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Jack Dempsey/Associated Press
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, John Elway confirmed that the team will use its franchise tag option on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas if a long-term deal can't be reached, as tweeted out by Lindsay Jones of USA Today.
That should come as a surprise to no one.
Thomas is one of the league's best receivers, and the Broncos aren't going to allow him to get away. This would force Denver to pay Thomas an average of the top five wide receivers in the league, but it isn't as if he doesn't deserve that.
Peyton Manning and Thomas have created one of the most potent passing combinations in the league. During the last two seasons, Thomas has caught 203 passes for 3,049 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Ensuring he is in Denver for the upcoming season should be done at all costs.
Michael Conroy/Associated Press
Julius Thomas will be one of three Denver tight ends set to become unrestricted free agents, but the other two, Jacob Tamme and Virgil Green, haven't come close to his production—combined.
Still, the Broncos aren't making a strong enough push to keep their star tight end, at least according to his agent, Frank Bauer.
Mike Klis of The Denver Post reports that Bauer feels the team is pushing his client towards a different team.
The Broncos would almost certainly like to retain Thomas, but not at the price he's likely demanding. Another team will pay him that kind of money and he'll be on the move.
David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Remember those Broncos teams that were gashed by the run several years in a row? Hopefully John Elway does
The Broncos were one of the better team's in the league in defending against the run last season, giving up just 79.8 yards per game. Only one team—the Detroit Lions—allowed less.
Terrance Knighton was a very big reason for their stellar play against the run, but he likely won't be back next season, at least according to Mike Klis.
Knighton's asking price may be a bit too steep for a team that is already paying big money to several defensive players such as Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib.
It would be a shame to see Knighton go, but a team like the Oakland Raiders would likely make a strong push to bring him in. Jack Del Rio, Oakland's new head coach, drafted Knighton in Jacksonville and helped bring him to Denver as a free agent.
Still, the Broncos should look to pinch costs wherever they can in order to keep Knighton in Denver not only because of his production over the last two seasons, but also because the team would be left very thin at the defensive tackle position.
Jack Dempsey/Associated Press
Orlando Franklin was perhaps the best offensive lineman in Denver last season. And that came after a transition from tackle to guard that he wasn't exactly thrilled about.
With that said, Klis doesn't expect him to be in Denver next year either.
Franklin will easily be one of the most attractive offensive linemen on the open market, one that numerous teams will send offers towards.
If the Broncos choose not to give Franklin the best offer, it may be because they are happy with the progression of last year's third-round pick, Michael Schofield.
With that said, Pro Football Focus rated Franklin No. 13 out of 78 guards last season. He came in at No. 13 in run blocking and No. 8 in pass blocking. That will be tough to let go of.
Jeff Haynes/Associated Press
Most of Denver's focus in free agency should be on keeping their own players, but they'll have to explore what is out there from other teams as well.
Woody Paige of The Denver Post suggests that the Broncos should sign Green Bay Packers' tackle Bryan Bulaga, Baltimore Ravens' tight end Owen Daniels, Arizona Cardinals' defensive tackle Dan Williams, New England Patriots' safety Devin McCourty, Miami Dolphins' defensive tackle Jared Odrick and Baltimore linebacker Pernell McPhee.
That all sounds great, but it could be quite costly. However, I completely agree with the first two names on that list.
Denver will be looking to retool their offensive line this offseason, and Bulaga would be an excellent guy to start with. Bringing him in to play right tackle would allow Louis Vasquez to go back to the guard spot.
A move like that could soften the potential blow of losing Orlando Franklin.
As for Daniels, he is very familiar with the system Gary Kubiak likes to run, having played for him with the Houston Texans and then again in Baltimore.
Daniels would be an upgrade over Jacob Tamme and would also be a complement to Virgil Green, an excellent blocking tight end.
While Daniels probably couldn't match the production that Julius Thomas has had the last two seasons, the team could do a lot worse.
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