Thread: 2025 off-season thread

Originally Posted by dogfish

Pitts also suffered an MCL/PCL tear during the '22 season, which undoubtedly also impacted his performance-- and he hasn't ever gotten back to his former level. I'd still make a call and see if he's available. Sometimes guys just need a change of scenery, and Payton's a better offensive coach than anyone Pitts has played for. Buff, I agree about Jeanty. I'm not typically a big fan of 1st round RBs either, but I'll take a guy with Jeanty's skills over the risk inherent in making a big investment at TE. Seriously, what are there, like three or four true difference-makers at that position in the whole league? A good RB might touch the ball 20-25 times per game, it's probably closer to 5 for the vast majority of TEs. I know they're not great long term investments due to the typical shelf life, but the good ones do generate a ton of production for cheap on that first contract. I'd rather draft a hoss OL or DL than either, but gimme Jeanty over a TE all day.

Rumor here in ATL is that Pitts can be had for a Day 3 pick. I’d like for DEN make that trade and select the BPA at #20 or trade back and acquire more draft picks. RB (Omarion Hampton) would be on my personal wishlist. Then hope a TE prospect like Arroyo is still available in round 2 or 3. TE room would be instantly upgraded IMO. DEN should also splurge on at least two FA’s- Milton Williams and Jevon Holland.

I'm warming up some to the idea of Warren, but Loveland is a hard pass for me. Given the huge bust rate for high picks at the position, you better be a total freak prospect if I'm spending a high pick on you. Even the NFL.com profile says he'll likely never be a good blocker, and that he's very talented but pretty raw even as a receiver. And his surgeon just came out and said he "should be" cleared for training camp after reconstructive shoulder surgery. Which basically means he won't be lifting until then-- given how difficult the transition already is at tight end, that just sounds way too much like a recipe for a red shirt first year for my taste. If it's not Jeanty or Warren, gimme a big DL or OL there. I'll take a chance on Taylor, Arroyo, maybe Helm a little later on. Even though TE is a bigger need, I'd absolutely take Emeka Egbuka or Luther Burden over Loveland. Those guys have WR1 upside, and those dudes produce so much more than basically any TE who isn't Kelce. May not fill as immediate a need, but it's a way better long term pick IMO. I would also take safety Malaki Starks over CL, just because he has so much potential as a versatile chess piece and overall elite athlete who might push an already great secondary over the top. Or draft a stud corner to compete with Moss for the starting job. JMO.

From Andrew Mason..

INDIANAPOLIS — Which top tight end prospect are the Denver Broncos meeting with at the NFL Scouting Combine?

A. All of them.

Just as they did with the quarterback position last year, the Broncos are spending time diving into the tight-end prospects on hand, as Penn State’s Tyler Warren, Michigan’s Colston Loveland, Texas’ Gunnar Helm, Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson and Elijah Arroyo of Miami (Fla.) all confirmed formal meetings with Broncos officials.

https://denversports.com/nfl/denver-...DOWzNHeXHbqPpA

Originally Posted by Traveler

Rumor here in ATL is that Pitts can be had for a Day 3 pick. I’d like for DEN make that trade and select the BPA at #20 or trade back and acquire more draft picks. RB (Omarion Hampton) would be on my personal wishlist. Then hope a TE prospect like Arroyo is still available in round 2 or 3. TE room would be instantly upgraded IMO. DEN should also splurge on at least two FA’s- Milton Williams and Jevon Holland.

I'd be all over Pitts for a day three pick, and Williams would be nice. I love Holland, but I'm afraid Denver won't be interested. Word from the local guys when we released Simmons was that Payton really wants two interchangeable safeties who will both come downhill and fill hard in the run game, and Holland is more of a prototypical deep halves coverage guy. I most definitely want at least one DL in free agency, whoever it ends up being. But the guy at the top of my wishlist right now is Nick Bolton. I BADLY wanted Denver to draft him, and have regretted that miss ever since. Dude is a leader and a playmaker, top shelf in coverage for an off-ball backer, and gets sideline to sideline in the run game. I remember a few years back when I was at the Chiefs game late in the year, and we were driving for the go-ahead score, then he broke my heart with like a 70+ yard scoop and score to end the game. And there's a significant bonus to signing him-- if teams refuse to hire Spags away from KC, we could at least steal one of the core players from the middle of that defense. It's not like they were exactly an offensive powerhouse last year.

Originally Posted by dogfish

I'm warming up some to the idea of Warren, but Loveland is a hard pass for me. Given the huge bust rate for high picks at the position, you better be a total freak prospect if I'm spending a high pick on you. Even the NFL.com profile says he'll likely never be a good blocker, and that he's very talented but pretty raw even as a receiver. And his surgeon just came out and said he "should be" cleared for training camp after reconstructive shoulder surgery. Which basically means he won't be lifting until then-- given how difficult the transition already is at tight end, that just sounds way too much like a recipe for a red shirt first year for my taste. If it's not Jeanty or Warren, gimme a big DL or OL there. I'll take a chance on Taylor, Arroyo, maybe Helm a little later on. Even though TE is a bigger need, I'd absolutely take Emeka Egbuka or Luther Burden over Loveland. Those guys have WR1 upside, and those dudes produce so much more than basically any TE who isn't Kelce. May not fill as immediate a need, but it's a way better long term pick IMO. I would also take safety Malaki Starks over CL, just because he has so much potential as a versatile chess piece and overall elite athlete who might push an already great secondary over the top. Or draft a stud corner to compete with Moss for the starting job. JMO.

Loveland wasn't asked to block much, may be the reason why. He was Mich. top receiver. So basically he was a blocker when they ran the ball.

I'm not going knock young prospects in that area of their game. Their going to get coached up and drilled through camp, practices, and the film room.

But I do love the fact that we're so invested at the position. Let's face it, we don't have a TE between the 20s. Bo either throws it to the WRs or it's a dump pass to a RB. That's our passing offense in a nutshell. We have a huge need there and it needs to be addressed. FA and/or the draft.

Originally Posted by Skinny

This almost gives me shivers.

Barf

It’s only March 6th and I’m already worn out by the local talk about SP’s “Joker” position, that’s a luxury for an offense this limited.

“Gotta get Bo Nix some weapons!”.

Broncos got their asses handed to them by the Bills . . . go look at their “weapons”.

If the Broncos actually do have a Josh Allen (they do not, but try telling fans that) then build accordingly. And OTOH, if they have Brock Garcia (they do) then what’s the point of building around him?

Build the DL, early and often, and let SP populate his vanity project with “fits the system” scrubs, it’s his elite play calling that makes the offense sink or swim anyway.

Broncos fired OLB Coach Mike Wilhoite, arrested for assault.

The Commanders have released DT Jonathon Allen. Dude is still a beast, he'd be a great signing. Niners are reportedly interested, I hope we get involved as well. TE Evan Engram was also just released by Jacksonville, he'd also be a solid pickup. Doesn't block, he's basically just a big slot receiver, but that beats anything we've had at TE in years. And Seattle released Dre'Mont Jones. Bring him back! A rotation of Zach Allen, Jones and JFM would be nasty. Free agency starts Monday, hope they've got a legit move or two up their sleeves.

Buffalo and Baltimore annihilated our defense, so I would rank DT as the number one need. Dre'Mont is a great option and someone who is durable, but Bosa, Allen, or Hargrave would also be solid options to boost the position. A true run stuffer might help the defense more than a pass rush DT, but good players help your whole defense.

I don't care if the front office rushes into free agency, and I expect them to be more of a blend of the last two years rather than rushing in or being silent. There are some solid gets that people overpaid for and now will be great contributors as cap casualty cuts.