Denver Broncos could spend heavily on these 4 free agents in 2023
January 31, 2023, Sean Payton has officially become the head coach of the Denver Broncos, and management will shift to roster rebuilding. The free-agent signing period will formally begin on March 15 when the new league year begins. The Broncos will probably try to free up some cap space between now and then, so they can pursue new players for their roster.
For instance, by cutting three players Graham Glasgow, Ronald Darby, and Chase Edmonds, the team can reclaim nearly $27 million in cap space. There is a good chance that none of those players will be back in the Broncos for the upcoming season because Denver might upgrade at each of those positions.
The Broncos only have $9.6 million in cap space available right now, but with almost half the league in the red, that might not seem too bad. Free agency is one of the best ways for the Broncos to make significant moves to return to contention.
The Broncos should mark these four players on their free-agent list, therefore.
Mike McGlinchey (Offensive Tackle), San Francisco 49ers
If you're wondering why the San Francisco 49ers have had so much success under head coach Kyle Shanahan, most of it starts up front with a tough, tenacious offensive line. And what the Broncos need? A tougher, more tenacious offensive line.
The right tackle spot was never addressed with a solid option this past season as the team had multiple marginal guys vying for the starting role in training camp and then both Billy Turner and Tom Compton were hampered with injuries most of the year.
Spotrac.com shows McGlinchey with a potential market value of about $10.7 million a year, which would be more than double his current annual salary. That salary puts him as the 15th highest-paid right tackle in the league, but a new deal should put him comfortably in the top 10.
James Bradberry (Cornerback), Philadelphia Eagles
The New York Giants tried to trade cornerback James Bradberry during the offseason, but decided against it when no one was interested in a deal. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, and that turned out to be the right choice. For the Eagles, Bradberry started each of the team's 17 games, and his excellent coverage helped him earn a spot on the Second Team All-Pro. During the regular season, he had three interceptions, and he returned one of them for a touchdown.
However, Bradberry was only given a one-year contract by the Eagles, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current campaign. The Eagles might want to keep him around, but the Broncos should be interested if he starts to accept offers from other teams. Bradberry and Patrick Surtain, along with Justin Simmons at safety, could form the best cornerback tandem in the NFL and possibly the best secondary in all football.
Da'Ron Payne (Defensive Tackle), Washington Commanders
This would definitely be one of those “break the bank” kind of deals as a long-term contract for Da’Ron Payne could bring close to $100 million, but he could join up with the likes of D.J. Jones and Dre'Mont Jones to make up an incredibly tough defensive front.
The former first-round pick is coming off a career year in which he had 11.5 sacks and was voted to the Pro Bowl, facts that will only drive his price up further. He has 26 sacks for his career and has missed just one game in his five-year career thus far.
A'Shawn Robinson (Defensive Tackle), Los Angeles Rams
A'Shawn Robinson would be an incredible addition to the Denver Broncos if they were looking for a player who could play the defensive line position. Robinson plays with Aaron Donald on the same team, he doesn't receive the respect he merits, despite the fact that he was an important member of the LA Rams' Super Bowl squad the previous year. Additionally, he would be much less expensive than Da'Ron Payne.
A'Shawn Robinson's versatility in the defensive line, which allows him to play either end or tackle, will be very helpful for the Bronc run. Robinson has made almost 300 tackles in his career, and he would be a great addition to a defense that also featured Dre'Mont and D.J. Jones.
It is unknown if Robinson is still a priority in Los Angeles Rams since he was placed on injured reserve this past November and only played in 10 games this season, but at 27 years old, he probably still has a few good years of football left in him.
