The first day of the NFL’s 2020 legal-tampering period was one of of the wildest in recent memory. Two superstars were traded and even more swapped teams through the market in what was a flurry of moves.
After sifting through all the news of today, here are the tidbits that should affect the Broncos the most heading into the 2020 season and beyond.
Elway buys Drew Lock much-needed protection
Denver’s offensive line should be looking much better in 2020 thanks to their signing of Lions offensive linemen Graham Glasgow.
Glasgow is an incredibly versatile offensive linemen that will likely replace Connor McGovern at center. The deal, which will pay Glasgow $11 million per year for the next four seasons, solidifies Denver’s line, as they now have starters at all five positions.
For more on the Glasgow signing, click here.
Broncos hand out tenders
The only moves the Broncos made today were efforts to bring back contributors from last year.
First, they placed a second-round tender on Elijah Wilkinson which will ensure the versatile starter makes a return in 2020. No word on Mike Purcell‘s tender yet, but the Broncos are expected to tender the run-engulfing hogmollie.
Then, it was reported by Zac Stevens that the Broncos would be tendering Trey Marshall, Diontae Spencer, Tim Patrick and Shakial Taylor.
Taylor’s tender is the only one that could potentially be deemed surprising, as the other players tendered are all young and played well in 2020. Plus, it almost always makes sense to tender an exclusive-rights free agent — which Marshall, Spencer, Patrick and Taylor were — as it only commits the team to a one-year deal worth the veteran-minimum.
Lastly, it was reported by Mike Klis that the team is trying to work out a contract with last year’s AAF signing, De’Vante Bausby.
Raiders steal Kwiatkoski, Patriots tag Thuney
Denver saw two of their potential targets plucked from the crop of available free agents today in Nick Kwiatkoski and Joe Thuney.
Kwiatkoski was tied to the Broncos as he played under Vic Fangio with the Bears and Denver could use an upgrade at inside linebacker. That reunion won’t be happening though, as Kwiatkoski agreed to a three-year deal that will pay him $21 million.
It was speculated that Denver could also bring in Thuney to upgrade their offensive line, and while they still could, the path to doing so has become much more expensive, and seems infinitely less-likely following the Glasgow signing. By franchise-tagging Thuney, the Patriots made it so that any team that wants to make the guard the highest-paid at his position in NFL history will also have to send a player or draft pick New England’s way.
Blockbuster moves change Broncos draft strategy
For the second-straight season, we saw a superstar wide receiver in his prime get traded when the Houston Texans shipped Deandre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals.
It was a massive trade that will make the red birds’ offense much more dangerous next season and improves the chances that one of this year’s top-three receivers falls to the 15th pick, but you can read more about that here.
The second big trade of the day saw the 49ers deal Deforest Buckner to the Colts in return for the 13th pick in this year’s draft. As the 49ers have a need at receiver and could now be looking to replace Buckner, this move made it less likely that Javon Kinlaw or one of those top receivers falls to Denver.
Also worth noting was the Browns’ signing of Jack Conklin, which could make them less likely to draft a tackle in the draft, and more likely a top one is on the board at the 15th pick. Conklin has primarily been a right tackle though and the Browns need two tackles, especially one on the left side.
