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Denver Broncos free agents no one is talking about: Offense

Denver Broncos know

With all the buzz about the loss of Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan and the potential loss of C.J. Anderson (not to mention the trade for Mark Sanchez), it’s easy to forget that the Broncos have a large list of free agents that played significant roles on the Super Bowl 50 team and need to be re-signed or replaced.

Denver started the free agency period with more than a dozen unrestricted free agents, and as of Friday had not retained a single one of them. In fact, they had created three more by cutting veterans Aaron Brewer, Louis Vasquez, and Owen Daniels before the free agency period began.

Here’s a quick rundown of the key free agents (based on 2015 snap count) Denver had on the roster in 2015, the latest rumors about them, and our take on whether or not the Broncos should re-sign them.

Ryan Harris – OT
2015 Snap %: 90.64
2015 Cap Hit: $1.42 million

Overview: Signed as a street free agent last year, Harris took over left tackle duties for the injured Ryan Clady. He was a stalwart on the line – but one that struggled mightily.

Rumors: Harris will reportedly meet with the Steelers in the second week of free agency.

Our Take: Ryan Clady is reportedly willing to restructure his contract. Ty Sambrailo is expected to be healthy. Donald Stephenson was brought in as swing tackle. Enjoy your Super Bowl ring in retirement, Ryan. Thanks for all you did for Broncos Country.

Louis Vasquez – G
2015 Snap %: 79.02
2015 Cap Hit: $5 million

Overview: The leader of the o-line for the past three years, Vasquez was cut just before free agency to clear $5.5 million in cap space. Denver will pay him $1.25 million in dead money this year.

Rumors: At 28 years old, Vasquez still has some time left in the league. As a former All-Pro (2013) he’ll fetch a decent price tag, despite his injury troubles. He’s met with Tennessee so far.

Our Take: With the emergence of rookie Max Garcia last year it seemed like Evan Mathis would be the casualty, as Mathis is currently a free agent. The price tag for Vasquez was just too high, though, and his return would require a minor miracle.

Owen Daniels – TE
2015 Snap %: 74.57
2015 Cap Hit: $4.75 million

Overview: Denver cut Daniels just before free agency, saving $2.5 million in cap space but still owing the veteran tight end $2 million in guaranteed money. His production was down in 2015, but so was everyone’s on the Denver offense.

Rumors: Daniels name has yet to surface on the main free agent radar. As a guy who’s played his whole career with Gary Kubiak, you have to wonder if anyone else even has his phone number.

Our Take: Daniels didn’t put up huge numbers in 2015, but no one in the Denver offense did. He’ll turn 34 in November, but he was nails in many key situations last year. If no one throws big money at him, Kubiak could lure him back for a swan song on the cheap.

Evan Mathis – G
2015 Snap %: 
72.84
2015 Cap Hit: $2.922 million

Overview: Pro Football Focus scored Mathis one of the best guards in the league last year, all while battling some pretty serious injuries throughout. He’s set to undergo ankle surgery in the offseason.

Rumors: Mathis told KUSA that he’s not sure if he’ll return, but “there’s zero reasons right now why Denver wouldn’t be first on my list.”

Our Take: Re-signing Mathis could come down to money, now that the former All-Pro has a Super Bowl ring. With only another year, maybe two, left (he’ll be 35 in November) to play, he’d be wise to take as much money as someone’s willing to pay him. If Denver’s the highest bidder, it’s a win-win.

Ronnie Hillman – RB
2015 Snap %: 47.41
2015 Cap Hit: $942,708

Overview: Hillman split time with C.J. Anderson in the backfield all year, but was almost a complete nonentity in the biggest game of the year. Despite some big runs early in the season, he proved to be a drive killer late in the season.

Rumors: USA Today wrote on Thursday that the Broncos expect to lose Hillman, an unrestricted free agent. Scout.com likes him going to Washington, but no news about interest there has surfaced as of yet.

Our Take: “The Broncos expect to lose” him translates to “the Broncos don’t want him back.” Hillman was the youngest player in the league for two years, and it showed in his development. The scary prospect is that he becomes the home run hitter elsewhere, where in Denver he was only a home run threat.

Jordan Norwood – WR/PR
2015 Snap %: 33.88
2015 Cap Hit: $745,000

Overview: After spending a year on injured reserve, Norwood emerged as a surprising No. 3 receiver with a slight nod over Andre Caldwell. He came on better late in the year, but was never a major weapon in the offense. His record-setting 61-yard Super Bowl punt return was 10 yards better than his total punt return yards for the regular season.

Rumors: Even the Broncos own website doesn’t consider Norwood a top free agent, but the do like his value in the slot and as a return man. Despite making a splash in the biggest game of the year, few teams have expressed public interest – Detroit among them.

Our Take: Norwood doesn’t look like he’ll blow anyone’s socks off, both in free agency or on the field, but he’s sneaky – as we all saw in the Super Bowl. Denver should try and lock him up quickly and move on from other veteran wide receivers taking snaps from him.

Vernon Davis – TE
2015 Snap %: 26.43
2015 Cap Hit: $2.477 million

Overview: John Elway traded for Davis at the deadline in hopes that the veteran tight end would prove to be a spark for an offense that could get nothing going all year. Davis dropped several key passes in crucial losses and was eventually phased out of the game plan except for blocking and as a decoy.

Rumors: Davis has met with his hometown Redskins and also said in early March he wants to play four or five more years in the league.

Our Take: Elway and Gary Kubiak praised Davis during the postseason for his leadership skills in the locker room and being part of the game plan (aka, making his blocks), but it was clear after his drops against Pittsburgh that his days in Denver were numbered.

Andre Caldwell – WR
2015 Snap %: 24.07
2015 Cap Hit: $1.55 million

Overview: Caldwell was again asked to compete for the No. 3 job, with the expectation that he’d be going up against Cody Latimer. Instead, he shared time as No. 3a with Jordan Norwood. His greatest contribution was a touchdown in the overtime win against New England.

Rumors: The free agent market isn’t particularly hot for soon-to-be 31-year-old Caldwell. He’s had his name thrown around as a possible fit in Cincinnati, but nothing official.

Our Take: Caldwell to the Bengals could be a little scary, but then again, Caldwell with Manning was supposed to be scary. He’s a quality special teams contributor, but is he worth more than $1.5 million? We’ve been saying for years he wasn’t worth his price tag, yet he always returns.

Tyler Polumbus – OT
2015 Snap %: 12.53
2015 Cap Hit: $481,764

Overview: Polumbus joined the Broncos as a street free agent when Ty Sambrailo went down with injury early in the year. He saw limited playing time, making the biggest impact when he replaced Michael Schofield during the second half of Week 17. Still, that wasn’t enough to take the job away during the playoffs.

Rumors: KUSA said the Broncos planned to meet with Polumbus’ agent during the combine. That same article said they planned to keep linebacker Danny Trevathan.

Our Take: It’s hard not to root for the former CU Buff and Cherry Creek Bruin, but if he was more of a liability than Schofield, there’s no reason to keep him around. Maybe he could be converted to guard to fill the Mathis void?

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