Thread: Broncos 2014 Free Agents: a success story

Robert Mays at Grantland has an article up about free agency in the NFL recently, with some hits and some misses. Here's the part on us:

For the best-case scenario, look to Dove Valley, Colorado, where the undefeated Broncos are leaning on a 2014 free-agent class that might rival any we’ve ever seen.

When free agency kicked off in 2014, the Broncos had just lost to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. But while their defense ranked a respectable 15th in DVOA, the group offered a few areas for improvement, as it featured a couple of aging former starters (Shaun Phillips and Champ Bailey) and the solid-but-unspectacular Duke Ihenacho at strong safety.

That spring, John Elway used that golden arm of his to throw a combined $59.5 million guaranteed at DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, and T.J. Ward to take over those three spots. It might’ve taken a year longer than expected, but four weeks into this season, Denver comfortably ranks first in defensive DVOA, with all three playing meaningful roles. Ware, especially, once again looks like the player he did in Dallas — the one who was arguably the best defensive player in football at the end of the last decade. After finishing last season with 20 quarterback hits, he already has 12 through four weeks.

Of course, the Broncos’ success is about a lot more than three players. Replacing Jack Del Rio with Wade Freaking Phillips — one of the best defensive minds in football, who, you know, just happened to be hanging out at home — is quite the break. Watching Brandon Marshall go from Jaguars castoff to Pro Bowl–caliber linebacker doesn’t hurt. And Von Miller remains one of the best players at any position in the league.

Beyond Miller, the Denver defense is full of even more homegrown talent. Former fifth-round pick Malik Jackson is an underrated pass-rusher, nose tackle Sylvester Williams has come into his own, and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. continues to be one of the best undrafted finds in recent memory. Drafting and developing is always going to be paramount in building and maintaining a contender, but the Broncos are a perfect example of how strengths built in the draft can be supplemented with money spent in free agency.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nf...demarcus-ware/

Thank you, John Elway (and Wade Phillips, in this case)

Good article. I think our defensive improvement can be tied to two key things.

- Wade Phillips (and by proxy, better schemes and game planning).

- Replacing Rahim the Mental Midget with Darian Stewart. Stewart may be the most underrated player on the defense.

Originally Posted by Bosco

Good article. I think our defensive improvement can be tied to two key things.

- Wade Phillips (and by proxy, better schemes and game planning).

- Replacing Rahim the Mental Midget with Darian Stewart. Stewart may be the most underrated player on the defense.

This board has talked about Stewart a lot, but I agree that in the outside world, no one knows who he is even after the game sealing INT against Baltimore. He wasn't a big ticket FA, but he has been a big part of this defense. There are just so many great players on that side, he can definitely get overlooked.

Stewart was an excellent pick up. We have the leagues best secondary. To top it off these guys are not soft at all either. Ward and Talib bring a lil nasty to the defense.