The NFL free agency period is officially under way. Beginning Tuesday, NFL clubs are able begin talks with the agents of unrestricted free agents. Starting Thursday, at 4:00p.m., teams are able to begin to officially sign players to new contracts. The deals will happen quickly, and there will be a whirlwind of activity, over the next few days.
We know that the Denver Broncos have some positions that need to be shored up, and improved significantly, but not every free agent at those positions is a good fit. Whether it be too high of a price tag, or a poor fit for the team, the Broncos will need to be selective in the players that they choose to sign. Here are five free agents that it will be best to avoid.
Jamaal Charles (RB)
The Denver Broncos know more than many teams what running back Jamaal Charles is capable of doing, when he is on the field. Playing within the AFC West, the Broncos have prepared for Charles over the past seven seasons. The problem is that the 30-year-old runner has played exactly eight games over the past two seasons.
Charles is trying to return from a second ACL tear, and he has struggled to get back to form. The Broncos may look to sign another running back in free agency, as their run game was among the league’s worst. Charles won’t be the answer.
Colin Kaepernick (QB)
While this might seem easy for many to dismiss the six-year quarterback based on his decision to take a knee (then not vote), this has nothing to do with politics. The Broncos should hold off on pursuing Kaepernick, because he simply isn’t a very good quarterback.
In his six-year career, Kaepernick is just 28-30 as a starter, while averaging just 12 touchdowns per season. His defenders may try to spin that he is simply the product of a bad coaching situation. However, his numbers began to drop while still playing under head coach Jim Harbaugh, and throwing to solid receivers like Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. If the Broncos would like to build up a quarterback, they should work on the two they currently have on their roster.
Andrew Whitworth (OT)
There is no question that the Broncos need to improve their dire offensive tackle situation. The signings of Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung a year ago proved to be complete disasters.
It isn’t that Whitworth can’t play, it is just the fact that he is already 35 years old, and will demand big money. Whitworth has been a top tackle for the past few seasons, but he would only be able to help Denver for maybe a season, and the cost is going to be very high. They might be better off spending the money elsewhere, and finding a tackle through the NFL Draft.
Dontari Poe (DT)
The Broncos are most likely going to need a nose tackle, as Sylvester Williams is an unrestricted free agent and probably won’t be brought back. There is no question that Poe has proven to be a beast, when he is healthy.
The 6’3” 346 pounder is capable of wreaking havoc along the defensive front, but a back injury limited his production in 2016. Poe had just 27 tackles, and 1.5 sacks. Unless there are assurances that the back problem has truly been corrected, Poe could be damaged goods at a very high price.
Kiko Alonso (ILB)
There may be a temptation to go grab an inside linebacker, after the Broncos struggled to shut down opposing running backs in 2016. The Denver defense allowed over 130 yards per game, and some of those yards can be attributed to the inside linebacking crew.
Brandon Marshall battled injuries all season, and Todd Davis and Corey Nelson are young, but seem to be improving. Kiko Alonso is a very talented player, that could be better than any of those three…if he could get on the field. Alonso has already missed 22 games, in his short four-year career. Signing Alonso might look like an enticing proposition, but the Broncos would be better off saving their money, for someone who will actually be on the field.