With the signing of two more players last week the Denver Broncos appear to be done adding veterans to the roster in 2015. The team’s salary cap issues created a tight budget and as a result, limited list of players were available to sign.
The new members of the Broncos will soon come under a microscope when the team begins their offseason workouts next week. Every season some additions work out and others are highly questionable. Here’s a look at the good, average and bad signings this offseason and why.
The Best
Owen Daniels is by far, the best addition to the Broncos. He was also the first, signing his three-year, $12.5 million deal in the first days of free agency.
His price tag is slightly high for a 32 year-old tight end but he will be getting paid for his play but also his expansive knowledge of Gary Kubiak’s offense. Daniels has played his entire career under Kubiak and will be a great source of information for Peyton Manning, Virgil Green and others.
“He can go teach our offense. He can walk in a room and teach what we do, so yeah. I know he and Peyton are getting together… for them to get together and talk, he can say, ‘I know Kubs calls this,’ so I know there will be a head start form that standpoint,” Kubiak told ESPN’s Jeff Legwold last week.
Daniels has also been relatively healthy over his ten years in the NFL and he had a great season just two years ago, collecting over 700 receiving yards. Either way Daniels should fit right in with the Broncos revamped offense.
Another great addition: Darian Stewart signed a two-year contract for $4.25 million and represents a hard-hitting safety that can replace Rahim Moore and has also played well at strong safety in his career. His sure tackling is also a bonus and something the Broncos have been missing at the back of the defense in recent years.
The Average
Antonio Smith is another former Texan that is reuniting with Kubiak, Wade Phillips and Bill Kollar. He is just a couple of seasons removed from being an elite pass rusher and appears to have some good play yet to give before he retires. He will have to prove himself among a deep and talented group of defensive linemen.
Smith spent last season with the woeful Raiders. The 6’3”, 290 pound defensive end is entering his 12th season in the NFL and is coming off of a season in which he played well as a pass rusher and terrible against the run in all 16 of the Raiders games.
If Smith can continue to cause problems in the passing game while improving in gap stopping up front his one-year deal worth $2 million will be well spent. However if he can’t be a well-rounded defender his playing time may shrink.
Another average addition: Gino Gradkowski was acquired for next to nothing in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The Broncos exchanged a 2016 fourth-round pick for a 2016 fifth-round pick to acquire the zone-blocking center. He will have to regain his 2013 form, in which he played in all of the team’s games at center.
The Worst
The Broncos signed career backup linebacker Reggie Walker last month and the move is simply a waste of resources. In six seasons as a pro Walker has only started six games (all in 2013) and in the best season of his career he totaled only 73 tackles.
The Broncos lack depth at inside linebacker and from that angle the signing makes sense but Walker seems to be little more than a third-string player. Steven Johnson, Todd Davis and Lamin Barrow all seem to be better options than Walker. According to spotrac.com the Broncos signed Walker to a one-year, $795,000 with $50,000 guaranteed.
The team will likely draft some big talent at inside linebacker in the draft at the end of the month which would make signing Walker even more of a head scratcher.
Another bad signing: Vance Walker joined the Broncos and much like Reggie Walker he has underperformed in his five seasons in the NFL. Walker played in a limited role in 2014 and only exceeded 25 snaps in a game in weeks 15 and 16, after playing in 791 snaps for the Raiders in 2013, per Pro Football Focus. Despite his low output the Broncos signed him to a two-year deal worth $5 million according to spotrac.com.
The Broncos addressed high areas of need this offseason and the moves can only be judged on paper thus far. Their true value will begin to take shape starting April 13th when they report to Dove Valley to begin the season.
Email Sam at sam@milehighsports.com and follow him on Twitter @SamCowhick.