From top to bottom, there aren’t many teams with more blue-chip players than the Denver Broncos. In fact, across Denver’s roster, there are 15 guys who’ve made a Pro Bowl during their career, six of which have been named to an All Pro team, too; altogether, they account for 45 total Pro Bowls and 16 All-Pro selections.
In case you don’t spend your time counting up Pro Bowls like I do, that’s not normal; actually, it’s about as impressive of a roster as you’ll ever find.
Unfortunately, in a league with as much turnover as the NFL, it can be extremely difficult to keep all that talent in one place for long, and Broncos fans will find that to be painfully true this offseason.
Here are five Pro Bowlers who are likely playing their final three regular season games for the Denver Broncos:
TE Vernon Davis (2 Pro Bowls)
John Elway took a chance on Vernon Davis when he traded for him midseason, but the former Pro Bowl tight end hasn’t done much during his short stint in Denver. And if Elway didn’t think Julius Thomas was worth a second contract, I can’t imagine he’ll think Davis is, either.
And while he may be the best tight end on the roster right now — that drop last Sunday excepted — the Broncos owe at least $2 million to Owen Daniels next season and have already invested a third-round pick in Jeff Heuerman.
The tight end position is an integral part of any Gary Kubiak offense, and it’s also the perfect safety blanket for a young quarterback, but for what Davis will be asking for, he’s simply not worth it.
It’ll be a one-and-done year for Davis and the Broncos.
RB C.J. Anderson (1 Pro Bowl)
Almost forgot C.J. Anderson made the Pro Bowl last year, didn’t you? And he deserved it, too.
The truth is that in 2015, Anderson looked to be well worth whatever contract the Denver Broncos could have considered giving him. Now, though, who knows? If you’re looking at the Anderson from the first six games of the season, there’s no way he’s back in Denver next season. If you look at the Anderson from the Green Bay and New England games, it’s hard to imagine you could find a better option.
But in the end, it comes down to whether you trust a guy enough to give him a brand new contract, and while I think he’s a talented player, I just can’t count on him. Since the day he stepped into the Mile High City, Anderson has spent half his time on the training table, and when he’s toughed it out and got on the field (like earlier this season), he hasn’t looked nearly the same.
And in this day and age, where the importance and longevity of the running back position continues to dwindle, unless you are positive your back is a true superstar, you’re probably better off finding another, younger back in the later rounds of the NFL draft.
Anderson is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Broncos will have the right to first refusal, but if any team comes at Anderson with a big-time contract, I believe Elway will take his chances elsewhere.
Maybe 2016 is the year that Kapri Bibbs finally makes his jump to the big leagues?
T Ryan Clady (4 Pro Bowls; 2 All Pros)
Ryan Clady has been a great Bronco, he’s a very good player and he deserves to be a starting left tackle in the NFL. That said, he’s not going to be playing for the Denver Broncos in 2016.
For one, Clady is now verging on 30 years old and has essentially missed the entirety of two of the last three seasons. Even if he is still a good option at left tackle, he’s a long ways away from being the guy that earned two All-Pro nods.
Second, he’s owed $10.1 million next season, seventh most amongst all left tackles. That’s a lot more than Clady is worth, and, more importantly, the Broncos will save nearly $9 million against the cap if they cut him.
Plus, there’s a reason they drafted Ty Sambrailo and pushed him into the starting lineup the moment Clady went down for the season: He’s their future, not a 30-year-old tackle coming off a torn ACL.
It may not be fair, but Clady’s preseason injury cost him any chance at playing for the Denver Broncos ever again.
LB DeMarcus Ware (8 Pro Bowls; 4 All Pros)
This one may come as a shock, but it makes a lot of sense.
Unlike some of the other players on this list, DeMarcus Ware won’t be a free agent this offseason, which means that if the Broncos are going to part ways with the four-time All Pro, they’re going to have to cut him. And if I were them, I’d strongly consider it.
The Broncos only owe Ware roughly $1.6 million next season; meaning, if they do end up cutting ties with him, they can save $10 million against the salary cap. That’s $10 million that can go towards resigning guys like Von Miller, Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Marshall and more.
And while Ware is still just about as good as he’s ever been, the Broncos are lucky to have guys like Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray waiting in the wings. With Miller still rushing the passer from one side, both those guys should be able to keep this Denver pass rush at the top of the league.
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[adrotate banner=”10″]QB Peyton Manning (14 Pro Bowls; 7 All Pros)
I’ve heard a few people who still believe that Peyton Manning will be in Denver next season, and technically his contract says he will be, but let me make this very clear: Manning may play football in 2016, but it won’t be in the orange and blue.
Manning is under contract for $21.5 million next season, but they’d only incur $2.5 million in dead cap if they cut him. Just like with Ware, that’s nearly $20 million in cap space Elway could use to help bolster a roster around Brock Osweiler.
And make no mistake, that’s exactly what Elway plans on doing: Building around Brock Osweiler.
Now, none of this means that Manning can’t play a role down the stretch of this season — honestly, I really wouldn’t be surprised if he does — but nothing he can do will bring him back to Denver for a fifth season. Either (a) he never regains his old form and the Broncos have no choice but to go onto Osweiler or (b) Manning comes back looking better than he has in a year, leads the Broncos on a playoff run and rides off into the sunset — let’s root for that one.
Whatever happens, though, it’ll have been one hell of a ride