Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
One in for Benjamin Albright hanging out here with Nick
(00:03):
Ferguson breaking down a busy day of free agency for
the Broncos end all around the NFL.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And now we want to.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome onto the show Parker Gabriel from the Denver Post.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Parker, how are you hanging in there?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Man?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You must be exhausted.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Yeah, we're doing pretty good so far.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, a busy day at Broncos headquarters. What do you
think about the two big moves on the defensive side
of the ball, the Broncos bringing in bringing in telenoah
A Funga at the safety position, and then just here
within the last hour of reports that they're bringing in
Drake Greenlaw too.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I think, And.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Then I think also, Phil.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
If you love you know getting DJ Jones back on
a three year deal late last night.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
You're sort of looking at.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
One impact guy up the middle for each level.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Of the defense.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's kind of like in base ball, if you came
away with a new catcher, a new shortstop, and a
new center fielder right like you, you've got to be
good up the middle. The Broncos are elite offensively on
the perimeter, and they showed that kind of throughout.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
The season, but in the rare instances.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
When they got in trouble, it was their ability to
cover and protect the middle of the field against the
elite quarterbacks in the AFC. And so this is clearly,
you know, moves from from George Payton, Sean Payton, Vince
Joseph aimed at hardening the middle of the defense and
(01:34):
trying to take that group from being one that's really
good to being one that's great.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Well, you know what everyone's talking about this Parker and
the moves that the Broncos made on the sensive side
of the ball.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
And I've been asked this question, but I'll defer to you.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
When you think about the fact of Hufunga and both
dream Law coming off Andrews, does that leave any concern
for you?
Speaker 7 (01:57):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Sure, I mean there's risk in it, but you know
they were both their age twenty six for Halfonga in
twenty seven I think for Drake green Law, and they
hadn't dealt with injuries in recent years. They both these
are guys who have sort of top of the market production,
you know, when they're healthy. I mean Halfongo was an
All Pro in twenty twenty two. Green Law obviously you know,
(02:20):
with Navarro Bowman, they've had great linebacker play in San
Francisco for many years. These are guys who, you know,
when you look at the numbers in terms of you know,
essentially fifteen million dollars a year for Halfonga and ten
plus million a year, eleven million a year for Drake Greenlaw,
you know you're you're factoring the injury risk in for
(02:42):
those numbers and so like, Yeah, for sure they're going
to count on these guys that are coming off of
major injuries over the past couple of years.
Speaker 7 (02:51):
But had they been perfectly healthy players, they either wouldn't
have pit free agency in the first place, or they
would have been at the very top of the market
price wise.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I think that's some forty nine Ers fans are now
going to be some Bronxos fans here, as they've really
sold the whole farm there in San Francisco. So, I guess, Parker,
you got to take Sean Payton and George Feen that
there were at this point right because they sort of
laid this out saying, Hey, we got to address the
(03:19):
center of the defense here. I guess the next part
of that is trying to get some weapons here.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
For bo Nicks.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
What's the latest here with em and Ingram because a
lot of reports that he spent you know, the whole
day there at the Broncos facility.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, he did.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I spend most of the day at the facility.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Not there anymore.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Obviously, we haven't heard anything about the deal yet, so
don't know exactly where it stands at this point. But
obviously Evan Ingram is in the mix for the Broncos.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Given that he's spent you know, the first day.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
It's a little different industry free agent, so he's able
to visit, but a full day, you know, with the Broncos, obviously.
Speaker 7 (04:00):
There's some interest there.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
He had a shoulder injury last year that you know,
I'm sure part of the deal is gathering information on that.
And there are some other options of guys that can
you know, that could do the job as a as
a free agent pass catching type, you know, whether it's
Juwan Johnson, who Champ Payton's really familiar with play for
him in New Orleans, or a couple of other guys. So,
(04:23):
you know, we'll see what happens with Evan Ingram, But obviously,
given that he spent you know, most of the day
with with the Broncos today here in Denver, would suggest
that it's ah He at least in the mix of
the guys that Broncos are considering.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
You know what, Park, I think that the Broncos still
are in the mix of adding more players to the team,
but more pulling on the Demon's side of the ball,
especially at the linebacker position. One guy I definitely have
my eye on, and I'm going to get your take
on Denzel Perriman who played with the Chargers last season.
I think if the Broncos would add him, now you
have two tandem lineback as at are physical that can
(05:01):
actually cover tight ends and we definitely make Vans Joseph
defense much better the season.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Yeah, I think that's right, Nick.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I don't well, you know, we'll see you with Paramount.
It feels like that Broncos maybe we're in the mix for.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
One inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And and they got you know, the top guy on
their board, you know who who made it to today
available and Drake green Law. We reported that they had
you know, conversations with Dendel Paraman's you know representatives even
you know today obviously when when the negotiating period opened,
you know, we'll see if that's still on the table
(05:40):
or or a guy they pursue now that they've got
Drake green Law. But but certainly, you know, overall, the
goals to update, you know, upgrade the athleticism at inside
linebacker and and and in the.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Middle of the field. On defense generally speaking.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Sticking with that defense, I mean, how good is this
defense going to be? Because last year, you know, for
the majority of the season, it was one of the
top defenses in the NFL. And now you bring in
two guys like you mentioned, they're sort of, you know,
when healthy and in their prime at the top of
their positions. I mean, how good is this side of
(06:17):
the ball going to be for the Broncos.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yeah, we've got a chance to be really good obviously,
And even if you don't, even if you don't fully
recreate the numbers, right like, even if you don't have
sixty three sacks or what have you, Like, it's a
group that we already know the defensive front is disruptive.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
And now they've got.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Continuity there with DJ Jones returning. We already know that
they're you know, you've got sort of like the ultimate
you know player in the secondary and passer tend.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
To build your coverage plan.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Around, and now you've got, you know, a couple more
playmakers at your disposal at positions where you know it's
not they weren't necessarily bad for the Broncos, but certainly
if you're talking about the weaker lengths of that group,
especially over the course.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Of the season, injuries took their toll.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
PJ.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Lock was playing hurt, obviously, Alex Singleton towards Aco early
in the season.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
But those are the position.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Groups the Broncos really, you know, where the production sort
of waned as the season went along. And now you've
got a couple of guys where again, you know, they've
got to stay healthy and they've got to produce and
all of that.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
But like, you've got a couple of guys that.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Have shown in the past that they can really get
the job at a high level.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Parky, you know what, this time of the year is
really crazy because we see guys traded, guys signing big deals.
The news coming out of San Francisco is that the
forty nine ers have told Kyle Jushek that they plan
on releasing him.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Just you know, just a bit balling here. Would you
think that that would be.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
A type of guy that the Broncos could add to
their roster to help bo Nike and move him along
as far as his career.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, it certainly could be. I mean, you know, why
not just get all of the guys at the forty nine.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
Ers at that point?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Uh No, I mean, you know, whether it's whether it's
Michael Burton coming back at some point, or a guy
like Kyle used Check or or you know, another fullback
on the market that or even in the draft, right,
I mean we've seen them, you know, toy around a
little bit with like Nate Atkins for example, and in
a little bit of backfield, a little bit of full
(08:21):
back type stuff.
Speaker 7 (08:22):
Uh in addition to playing tight end.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
That's the position that we know Sean Payton values. The
thing that Burton's got going into Savor is that he
was one of their best special teams players again.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
This past season. And obviously Denver.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Lost their top core special teamer in Traymon Smith today
going to Houston. So you know, maybe it'll be a
familiar face coming back with Burton, but if not, you
Check is a guy who obviously has has pelts on
the wall and and like you said, it's sort of
one of those, you know, versatile, dirty work guys that
Sean Payton always likes to have one of.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Those in his offense.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So the Broncos go out and get two big guys
in the first wave of free agency. How active do
you expect them to be here moving forward?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Now, Parker?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Do you think that this this was, this is what.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
They wanted to get done.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now they're just going to sort of fill in maybe
some pieces here and there and the rest of it.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
This thing is going to be pretty quiet.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah, I mean maybe, you know, I'm not sure i'mbout
pretty quiet. But I do think obviously typically what you
see is the biggest deals, you know, going out on
day one, and so you know, there was never I
don't think a sense that the Broncos were going to
you know, pay top of the market money. They didn't
need an offensive tackle, obviously, it didn't seem like they
were going to play for you know, Milton Williams or
(09:40):
some of the guys that got the biggest dollar figures.
But I think they'll still be active and maybe smaller deals.
But you remember last year, like the they signed Josh Reynolds.
I think that was at the very end of March
or maybe even in early April by the time it
got announced. And so you know, whether you're thinking about
a veteran wide receiver or you know some depth you
(10:03):
know in the secondary, more depth in the secondary, or
or you know a running back maybe that you want
to bring in to compete, even if you're thinking you
might draft one, Like I think you've still got a
bunch of things probably percolating, and I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
They're still working through a lot.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
But you know, these two guys that they got today
were clearly two of the big swings they.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Were going to take.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
And so you know, maybe that maybe the tight end,
whether it's Devin Ingram or somebody else, is sort of
like the last of the primary trio. But then we
saw them, you know, read up with you know, smaller
deals for several several of their other guys like Matt
Parrott and and for Boni the long snapper, and so
you maybe see a little bit more of that and
some some smaller deals here and there.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
So what do you make former Broncos running back Javonte
Smith ach gonna deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Do you think he fits into what they're trying to
do now with Dak Prescott.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Yeah, I mean, I think a boutch of Monte at
this point.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
It is like, and George Payton said this to the Combine,
he's still one of the best you know, blocking, you know,
pass protecting running backs in the NFL, And I mean,
it would be a great story if you could fully
get his legs back and get back to you.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Know what we saw his rookie year and before.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
That devastating the injury against the Raiders in twenty twenty two. Obviously,
you know the Broncos, you know, they left the door
open to bring them back on and it's a surprise
that he's headed elsewhere.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
But he's got utility. I mean, he'd be a reliable.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
It's not the role he's been in so far in
his career, but it's kind of a reliable third down back,
even if he's not like what you think of as
a prototypical third down back.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
And so you know, he'll find probably.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Find himself a role in Dallas and be a good player.
And then the Broncos, you know, look like their position
to really go pretty young at running back.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Do you think that the Broncos have addressed their biggest
need their needs now, Like, did you think that they
have the flexibility that they were hoping for now heading
into the draft here, assuming that they can find a
tight end like you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Yeah, I think if they get a tight end sign
then they're sitting in pretty good shape. I mean, you
would you would look at it right now and say
that they really need to still upgrade at tight end,
at running back, they probably you know, whether it's little
Jordan Humphrey as sort of like the you know, just
a steady veteran piece at receiver, or if you're really
going to try to like you know, upgrade that group
(12:27):
one more notch. You know, I think you probably would
say that that any or all three of the offensive
steal positions they still need to address.
Speaker 7 (12:37):
But certainly, you know.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
They've they've put themselves in a better position as it
pertains to the draft, which is always what you're trying
to do. You want to build your team through the draft.
You want to build your team through young, you know,
cheap talent, and then you want to retain your own players.
And one of the things about the rest of the
Broncos off season outside of the draft, is that a
big chunk of it is now at this point, like
retaining guys on your roster that you already know are good,
(13:00):
Nick Benito, Zach Allen, Cortland, Sutton, like that's where you
want to be at the franchise, rather than saying, Okay,
you know, we've got to go out and buy everything
on the open market.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
It feels like the team overall is in a much
healthier position today than than it has been in a
long time. And you know, I think Broncos fans are
fired up with the with the two big moves today.
So Parker, thanks so much for spending some time here
breaking down free agency. I know it was a wild
day started with x Twitter being down this morning, panic
(13:32):
for all reporters everywhere. And I'm glad that you made
it through that.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Yeah, catch me on Blues guys, so exactly. Yeah, well
go forward.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yeah we'll get Parker Gabriel threads too. So okay, well, Parker,
thanks so much, appreciate it man, good stuff there. Okay,
have a good night. That's Parker Gabriel from the Denver Post.
Just really good takes as good as you'll as good
an insight as you'll get.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
On the Broncos. They're from Parker Gabriel, So what did
you think? What'd you think?
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Nick?
Speaker 5 (14:03):
Well, you know what, Parker, you know, some very valid points,
some things that we had already talked about, because when
you look at the moves that the Broncos are making,
these were moves that we knew that needed to be made.
As soon as we watched that Buffalo game and the
final second ticked off. Immediately, I'm sure most people were saying, okay, well,
(14:25):
here are the areas of need that.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
The Broncos definitely need to target.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
And the first day of free agency they opened up
with it and you had to figure that they've had
a lot of these conversations going to the combine, looking
at the young crop of players coming out this year,
they decide, okay, well want to we want to make
sure that we pull the trigger on these particular players,
which should give us an opportunity to make some noise,
(14:51):
you know, in the draft and bring in some adequate talent,
something that once again George Faeton has done a great
job of.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Yeah, it's just all about building talent, building the roster,
and it does feel like the Broncos are in a
good spot.
Speaker 8 (15:03):
It helps when you got that quarterback. You know, it
definitely helps your mind. So think about this. If you
were building a house foundation, Yeah, you know you're not
gonna started the root first. You need the foundation. Yeah,
that's true, poor the concrete first. Well, we're gonna take
a quick break.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
We're gonna bring on our producer, Zach when we come
back on the other side here, and we'll talk about
whether or not the Broncos are done after two big
moves here on the first day. That's next here Han
Broncos Country tonight, but a nice Heirah Broncos Country tonight.
I'm film Milani filling in for Benjamin alright, hanging out
(15:40):
in studio here with Nick ferguson breaking down the Broncos
big moves here on the first day of the legal
tampering period. You know, you got two days to tamper
here and then the new league year beginning on Wednesday,
and these new deals can all become official and let's
sort of reset the table here if you're just joining us.
(16:02):
The Broncos made two big moves, according to reports, on
the defensive side of the ball, bringing in taloah A Funga,
a big time safety from the forty nine ers, and
then Drake Greenlaw, a stud linebacker also from the forty
nine ers. Those are the two big additions the Broncos
(16:23):
have made. According to reports here, a couple of guys
who are at the top of their position went healthy,
but some injury concerns to go along with them.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
The Broncos also officially.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Have re signed Jared Stidham, so they got their backup quarterback.
They've reportedly done DJ Jones, so the defensive.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Line staying intact there.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
And then Matt Pert, the offensive tackle really that six
guy along the offensive line, also coming back for the Broncos,
but there have been some departures here.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Cody Barton, a.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Bright spot at the linebacker spot last year for the Broncos,
head into Tennessee. Travonte Williams, a guy I think that
so much of Broncos country really fell in love with
that big, strong running back. I remember Nick when he
was carrying those dudes against the Ravens his rookie year.
(17:17):
He took them for a ride, and I think he
became a fan favorite, but after he got hurt, just
wasn't quite the same. Now he's getting make it sort
of deal there in Dallas, so we'll see what he
can do.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Zach Wilson, the.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Third string quarterback last year for the Broncos, getting a
chance in Miami. That could be a good spot for him,
you know, with some of the injuries that Tuas faced,
maybe Zach might get get a shot to prove how
how far he's come since his time at the Jets.
And then treymont Smith, the special team stand up for
the Broncos last year, head into Houston. So it's been
(17:56):
a busy, busy first day here, Nick, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
It's been a busy first day. And I mean, obviously
you're gonna have some departures. But here's a great thing
about the Broncos when you look at what they did
in the free agency, but more important, what they didn't lose.
It's not like a bunch of household names and the
time of the year, you're gonna lose some guys, or
you try to retain the guys that you feel as
though are intricate parts to what you want to do.
This be Tollyanas, Cody Barton, you know, playing a great
(18:22):
season that no one had really anticipated. But because when
he came in here, they were just trying to plug
some gaps because they had some injuries, but he ended
up stepping into a starting role along with Justin Trenard and.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
They play well.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
I mean, for me, I'll go back to that Thursday
night game against the New Orleans Saints where Cody Barton
had him one heck of a game. He was just
kind of that guy in the middle and he was
definitely everywhere. But as the season went on, there were
some some weaknesses that started to show in his game.
I go back to the game against Cincinnati. There was
(18:55):
a play where both had PJ lock and Cody Barton
blitzing at the same time, and if Cody Barton stays
to the right of Joe Burrow, he brings a you know,
Chase Brown with him and then that frees up a
free lane for PJ.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Locke and Joe Burrow.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
That was one of the plays where the Bengals really
needed it and they converted. And this is not me
just saying, well, because Cody Barty has now moved on
to someone else, that I'm going to look at this
opportunity to kind of dump on him.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
No, that's not what I'm doing.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
What I'm trying to point out is the Broncos scouting
department and coaches were looking at the same thing.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
I was looking at, how can.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
We get better and have guys on all three levels
contribute to make game impacting plays and not hurt us.
So that's what the Broncos did a free agency, trying
to fill some of those gaps and hopefully that ends
up to being something great for them this season.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Yeah, I mean, you can't keep everybody, right, and if
you can identify those SPADs maybe where you can get
a little bit better, maybe a little bit more athletic
out there, You've got to make those tough decisions. And yeah,
Cody well last year he had one hundred and six
combined tackles, a couple of interceptions, one and a half sacks.
So like for what he was brought in to do,
(20:10):
he did a nice job for the Broncos. So provided
a little bit of depth there. But yeah, you can't
can't keep everybody, and you got to say goodbye to
some people and that's just the NFL business. Let's bring
in our producer here, Zach Segers. Zach, would you think
of this busy first day here for the Broncos.
Speaker 9 (20:27):
I'm a big fan of it, you know, I think
left sorry linebacker and safety were points that they absolutely
had to address on the defense. Sean Payton brought it
up in that interview with Kay Adams about you know,
having to fix the spine of the defense and really
upgrade that area. I think your point is dead on there, Nick,
and they did so. I think there's some risk in
these swings, but you're taking swings on guys with all
(20:49):
pro potential. We've already seen Hufonga get.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
That all pro nod.
Speaker 9 (20:54):
Drake Greenlaw hasn't gotten that yet, but the last time
we saw him, you know, healthy that season and where
the Niners were in the Super Bowl, he was a
top five linebacker in the league. And you know, there's
definitely risk that they have continued or they keep suffering
these injuries and they're not able to get on the field,
and that would be a problem. But there's real upside
(21:16):
that you're getting two elite players at positions of need,
potentially turning these areas of weakness into areas of strength.
And based on what we know so far about the
guarantees in the contracts, the Broncos don't seem locked in.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So even if it does.
Speaker 9 (21:31):
Go the bad way, you know, I think you can
get out of it with honestly taking a dead cap
hit that's smaller than the one they're already absorbing this
year from the Russell Wilson cut. That was a great
point Nick made while we were talking about this. During
the breaks. They're used to dealing with this amount of
dead cap. Even if both these deals go horribly wrong,
they'll be dealing with less than twenty twenty six than
(21:52):
they are right now. So upside sky high, and even
the downside, I think they're pretty well protected.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Here's the other thing about these two pigs additions rather
with Greenlaw and Hafannga is like both of these guys
when they came out of college, you know, they were
fifth round picks that really played.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
And played well.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
So that kind of stake stays true to what the
Broncos have done under George Payden, having guys who were
not first rounders come in and contribute. And some teams
and some fans look at rosters when they're being constructed.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
They want the sexy splash.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
They want a team full of former first rounders, and
sometimes that doesn't.
Speaker 6 (22:32):
Always work out.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
But having guys who know how to fit into a puzzle,
and that's when I think about building a team.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
If I were a GM.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
I look at it at like it's a fifteen hundred
piece puzzle. Now you can start in the corners or
you can start with the centerpiece.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Either way, you have to build that out and you need.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Pieces so you can see the entire you know, puzzle
and the entire picture. And I think that is what
has all He's been the mindset of George Fad How.
Speaker 6 (23:03):
Do I build this team?
Speaker 5 (23:04):
And yeah, you know what, were there some rough years
with Russell Wilson, Absolutely, but you saw a lot of
guys produce. Unfortunately the team was not able to get
into the playoffs. They did that with bow Knicks, and
right now the Broncos are still thinking, Man, they exceeded
all expectations in the first year of bow Knicks, And
(23:25):
I'm like, look, if we fine tune, you pull out
your your Phillip screwdriver and you find tune of little
screws here and there. Now you're talking about a team
that is not a Super Bowl contender playoff contender, because
now we have to look at it from a babystep standpoint?
Am I wrong in that frame of mind? Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Not at all?
Speaker 9 (23:44):
And they're not taking a step back with these moves exactly.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
They haven't lost anyone.
Speaker 9 (23:48):
They retained DJ Jones, who was their biggest free agent,
and then they take the two. I think anyone would
have said those are the two biggest weaknesses on defense
right now and again chance to turn him into real strengths,
I think.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
But they wouldn't have been in a position to get
these two guys if the health concern wasn't there. And
I think that for the Broncos, you can sort of
like lean on a guy like bau Lowry a little
bit who's done a great job here with a player
health and performance for the Broncos, and so you just
ask him, hey, okay, you know these guys have some
(24:21):
injury concerns, like what do you like?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
You know way in on this.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
You know, that's sort of how the process works, right Nick,
Like you get all these guys in the room, you
talk about your ideas and say, Okay, here's what I think,
here's what I think, here's what I think. Hey bo
on the medical what do you think here? And he'll
weigh in and let you know, hey, okay, here's what
I've seen from Dre. You know, he tried to come
back play. He played in two games last year, then
(24:45):
he had a calf deal. Okay, hey, what do we
think how did he look in those two games coming
off the Achilles? And then that's how you balance the
risk reward, right, Nick, You like like, can you sort
of take us into the player side and then also
the teams and how free agency and some of this
stuff comes together.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Yeah, like after the season, you know, everyone in the
front office gets together because there is an evaluation of
the players, but more importantly, there's an evaluation of the coaches.
Because what I've learned in my time as a player,
but especially as a coach, you have to be able
to coach your coaches. What is it that we stand for?
(25:24):
What are we trying to teach? You want to make
sure that everyone's on the same page. So you go
back and you watch the film, and you don't watch
the games that you perform well, you watch the games
that you didn't perform well. So I'm guessing the Broncos
watched a lot of that Buffalo tape because once again,
that is one of the teams, the top teams in
the AFC, that you're gonna constantly be constantly being competing
with so you need to see, okay, well what did
(25:47):
Brandon Bean, What were they doing to Sean McDermott doing
with their team?
Speaker 6 (25:50):
How did they build that team out?
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Looking at the fact that Josh Allen there was no
step On Diggs, right, you had Amari Cooper, but he
wasn't the same with Marii Cooper. But they had different
guys contributing, and that is what you want to look at. Also,
you want to look at the bull I mean the
Detroit Lions. Why was it that they were so successful?
What were they doing and how they change things in
(26:13):
a short period of time, And you look at it
and you kind of steal and borrow and you look
at the other team because let's me telling honest, no one's.
Speaker 6 (26:21):
Reinventing the wheel here.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
You're not Football is football.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
Football is football.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
So you go back and you look at your your
your players. You put guys up on the board. This
is your top tier guys, this is your second tier guys,
here's your third tier guys, and you hope to hit
on those first tier guys. And from a team standpoint,
when you get to this point, you're hoping and you're wishing.
There's a lot of conversation back and forth, some hypothetical
feel well, what if I decided to do this?
Speaker 6 (26:47):
What would you do? Right? So you just kind of
get a feel for and.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That that that legal tampering period of the combine, And
from a player standpoint, you're just looking at the fact, Okay,
well in the previous.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
Year, how well did that play?
Speaker 5 (27:01):
If you look at other guys around the league at
your position, you look at their injuries, you look at
their age, what they made last year, because you and
your agents are compared contrasting. If Phil Mulani goes off
the board, he got a four year deal worth you know,
twenty million million dollars a year. I like it, Okay,
(27:21):
I know why he likes to do right. So you're saying, okay, well,
if I'm Nick Ferguson and my status are similar to yours,
whatever you get now you've helped me out.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Yeah, exactly, Like I think the Broncos probably maybe looking
at Nick Bolton, Okay, what that could be like maybe
our top guy, Okay, chiefs resign him. Okay, who's our
next guy? Maybe Dre Green laws that next guy. Okay,
here's what the market looks like. They're weighing all these
types of things and so that they've got a game
plan coming into this period here and so like for example,
(27:52):
like if you look at a guy like Emman Ingram,
he probably feels like he's got a little bit of
leverage on his side, being arguably the top tight end
available in this free agent class.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
So it's been reported Mike Cliff.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Says, Hey, Ingram comes into town on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
They take him over to Shanahan's doing nice.
Speaker 6 (28:13):
Not a bad place to go eat?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Well done, Nick, or what what are we doing there? No?
Speaker 6 (28:18):
No, no, no, no, well meeting.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Well okay, okay, gotcha.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Then you know.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Then they spend all day together at the facility and
Cliss says that he's left the building with no deal. Right,
So what do you think went on at the building today?
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Well, well, both sides were a little far apart.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Possibly this is hypothemics.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
Yeah, hypothetically as far as what the monetary compensation is
going to be. And you know, Evan Ingram understanding his position,
there's not too many times you're going to be in
this position where you can get another deal. So you
think about this would be Evon Ingram's probably fine, new
(29:02):
contract you got one with the Giants and got one
with the Jags. So he said, you know what, there
are some other teams that are buying for my ability.
One of them might be within the AFC West. So
let me go see what they're saying. If they're kicking
the same thing that you're saying, I'll come back here.
If they're sweetened up the pot, then I'll go there
(29:25):
as well, because you also have their you know, factor
in taxes as well, right, And I would say, you know,
California's there, high taxes, high gas, everything's high in California.
Speaker 6 (29:38):
So these are the things that you factor in. And
who's to say that the deal is dead?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Yeah, no, no it's not.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
You're just trying to figure out the best financial position
for you and your family, but also which team is
going to give you the best opportunity to continue your
career at a high level. So it had to be
expected now Broncos Country. I know we all wanted the
Broncos to ink that deal before Evon Ingram left. But
(30:05):
once again, even if you don't get an ever Ingram,
I mean there are other guys out there.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Yeah, I think that Evan is probably like that top guy,
you know, But Juan Johnson is the is the next
guy there. I think maybe obviously knows Champagne from their
time together with the Saints. But yeah, there's like a
little bit of a back and forth, right, there's gotta
be some negotiation here, and you know you don't want
(30:32):
him to leave if you really want him, but you
also have to be like, hey, we can't overpay here.
You kind of got to play the game, right, you
gotta say, fine, you could leave, you know, like, you
know our offer stands, and you know, you just got
to try.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
And there's a little bit of a game that goes on.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
I think it is a cat and mouse type of game,
and sometimes a team will.
Speaker 6 (30:53):
Kind of push you in a dire situation like.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Okay, well here here's our final offer. Yeah, usually that's
what happens. Well negotiations, here's our final offer. This is
all we can do, knowing good and well that they
can do more than what they're actually presenting, but they're
just trying to see how far you think or how
far are you willing to go?
Speaker 6 (31:13):
Yeah, but you always have to remember what you're worth and.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
When it comes to anything that you do is based
in the Lobo production and if Evan Ingram feels as
though with the Broncos gave him an offer and it
was too low and then.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
Go shoot your shot. This is your last contract, so
go ahead and shoot your shot.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Yeah, Evan Ingram eight years in this league.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
You know, had the torn labram last year, so he's
coming off of that. So I imagine the Broncos leverage in
this situation is saying, look, Joan Johnson's still out there
and if that doesn't work out, we can draft. This
is a really heavy tight end class coming into this draft,
so you know, if you don't want to be here.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
That's fine, Well thank you for coming out. I'll I'll
let you. Yeah, I mean thank you, right, I mean okay.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
You don't want to backdoor yourself into a situation that
you feel uncomfortable about, because at the end of the day,
no matter what the amount of money you gree you agree.
Speaker 6 (32:05):
Upon, it has to be a win win.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
You just can't feel as though, man, I just walked
there like a sucker.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Yeah, you don't want to feel like, Oh, you don't
want to feel you want everybody to be happy.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
That's what I got to give up something, You got
to give up something to compromise. Well, see here, that's
a word that's not often used and negotiations in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Compromise, Yeah, because you want guys to feel like they're valued,
you know, and they're like, hey, if you come join
the Broncos, they're going to treat you fairly. You know,
you don't want to have this bad reputation as a
team too. So but here's the other thing.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
Too, when you when free agents go into the team, right,
it's like a job interview. See see they are interviewing you,
so you should interview them too as well.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Totally totally because you don't want to. You don't want
to get locked into a bad spot exactly.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
That kind of leads to my next point. We got
to take a quick break there.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
But I'm wondering, Nick, what do free agents think of
bo Nicks to does a guy like emmin Ingram want
to come to Denver for an opportunity to join this offense.
So we'll talk about that next here on Broncos Country tonight.
One in for Benjamin Albright hanging out here with Nick
(00:03):
Ferguson breaking down a busy day of free agency for
the Broncos end all around the NFL.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And now we want to.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome onto the show Parker Gabriel from the Denver Post.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Parker, how are you hanging in there?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Man?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You must be exhausted.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Yeah, we're doing pretty good so far.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, a busy day at Broncos headquarters. What do you
think about the two big moves on the defensive side
of the ball, the Broncos bringing in bringing in telenoah
A Funga at the safety position, and then just here
within the last hour of reports that they're bringing in
Drake Greenlaw too.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I think, And.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Then I think also, Phil.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
If you love you know getting DJ Jones back on
a three year deal late last night.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
You're sort of looking at.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
One impact guy up the middle for each level.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Of the defense.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's kind of like in base ball, if you came
away with a new catcher, a new shortstop, and a
new center fielder right like you, you've got to be
good up the middle. The Broncos are elite offensively on
the perimeter, and they showed that kind of throughout.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
The season, but in the rare instances.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
When they got in trouble, it was their ability to
cover and protect the middle of the field against the
elite quarterbacks in the AFC. And so this is clearly,
you know, moves from from George Payton, Sean Payton, Vince
Joseph aimed at hardening the middle of the defense and
(01:34):
trying to take that group from being one that's really
good to being one that's great.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Well, you know what everyone's talking about this Parker and
the moves that the Broncos made on the sensive side
of the ball.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
And I've been asked this question, but I'll defer to you.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
When you think about the fact of Hufunga and both
dream Law coming off Andrews, does that leave any concern
for you?
Speaker 7 (01:57):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Sure, I mean there's risk in it, but you know
they were both their age twenty six for Halfonga in
twenty seven I think for Drake green Law, and they
hadn't dealt with injuries in recent years. They both these
are guys who have sort of top of the market production,
you know, when they're healthy. I mean Halfongo was an
All Pro in twenty twenty two. Green Law obviously you know,
(02:20):
with Navarro Bowman, they've had great linebacker play in San
Francisco for many years. These are guys who, you know,
when you look at the numbers in terms of you know,
essentially fifteen million dollars a year for Halfonga and ten
plus million a year, eleven million a year for Drake Greenlaw,
you know you're you're factoring the injury risk in for
(02:42):
those numbers and so like, Yeah, for sure they're going
to count on these guys that are coming off of
major injuries over the past couple of years.
Speaker 7 (02:51):
But had they been perfectly healthy players, they either wouldn't
have pit free agency in the first place, or they
would have been at the very top of the market
price wise.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I think that's some forty nine Ers fans are now
going to be some Bronxos fans here, as they've really
sold the whole farm there in San Francisco. So, I guess, Parker,
you got to take Sean Payton and George Feen that
there were at this point right because they sort of
laid this out saying, Hey, we got to address the
(03:19):
center of the defense here. I guess the next part
of that is trying to get some weapons here.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
For bo Nicks.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
What's the latest here with em and Ingram because a
lot of reports that he spent you know, the whole
day there at the Broncos facility.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, he did.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I spend most of the day at the facility.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Not there anymore.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Obviously, we haven't heard anything about the deal yet, so
don't know exactly where it stands at this point. But
obviously Evan Ingram is in the mix for the Broncos.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Given that he's spent you know, the first day.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
It's a little different industry free agent, so he's able
to visit, but a full day, you know, with the Broncos, obviously.
Speaker 7 (04:00):
There's some interest there.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
He had a shoulder injury last year that you know,
I'm sure part of the deal is gathering information on that.
And there are some other options of guys that can
you know, that could do the job as a as
a free agent pass catching type, you know, whether it's
Juwan Johnson, who Champ Payton's really familiar with play for
him in New Orleans, or a couple of other guys. So,
(04:23):
you know, we'll see what happens with Evan Ingram, But obviously,
given that he spent you know, most of the day
with with the Broncos today here in Denver, would suggest
that it's ah He at least in the mix of
the guys that Broncos are considering.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
You know what, Park, I think that the Broncos still
are in the mix of adding more players to the team,
but more pulling on the Demon's side of the ball,
especially at the linebacker position. One guy I definitely have
my eye on, and I'm going to get your take
on Denzel Perriman who played with the Chargers last season.
I think if the Broncos would add him, now you
have two tandem lineback as at are physical that can
(05:01):
actually cover tight ends and we definitely make Vans Joseph
defense much better the season.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Yeah, I think that's right, Nick.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I don't well, you know, we'll see you with Paramount.
It feels like that Broncos maybe we're in the mix for.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
One inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And and they got you know, the top guy on
their board, you know who who made it to today
available and Drake green Law. We reported that they had
you know, conversations with Dendel Paraman's you know representatives even
you know today obviously when when the negotiating period opened,
you know, we'll see if that's still on the table
(05:40):
or or a guy they pursue now that they've got
Drake green Law. But but certainly, you know, overall, the
goals to update, you know, upgrade the athleticism at inside
linebacker and and and in the.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Middle of the field. On defense generally speaking.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Sticking with that defense, I mean, how good is this
defense going to be? Because last year, you know, for
the majority of the season, it was one of the
top defenses in the NFL. And now you bring in
two guys like you mentioned, they're sort of, you know,
when healthy and in their prime at the top of
their positions. I mean, how good is this side of
(06:17):
the ball going to be for the Broncos.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yeah, we've got a chance to be really good obviously,
And even if you don't, even if you don't fully
recreate the numbers, right like, even if you don't have
sixty three sacks or what have you, Like, it's a
group that we already know the defensive front is disruptive.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
And now they've got.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Continuity there with DJ Jones returning. We already know that
they're you know, you've got sort of like the ultimate
you know player in the secondary and passer tend.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
To build your coverage plan.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Around, and now you've got, you know, a couple more
playmakers at your disposal at positions where you know it's
not they weren't necessarily bad for the Broncos, but certainly
if you're talking about the weaker lengths of that group,
especially over the course.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Of the season, injuries took their toll.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
PJ.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Lock was playing hurt, obviously, Alex Singleton towards Aco early
in the season.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
But those are the position.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Groups the Broncos really, you know, where the production sort
of waned as the season went along. And now you've
got a couple of guys where again, you know, they've
got to stay healthy and they've got to produce and
all of that.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
But like, you've got a couple of guys that.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Have shown in the past that they can really get
the job at a high level.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Parky, you know what, this time of the year is
really crazy because we see guys traded, guys signing big deals.
The news coming out of San Francisco is that the
forty nine ers have told Kyle Jushek that they plan
on releasing him.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Just you know, just a bit balling here. Would you
think that that would be.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
A type of guy that the Broncos could add to
their roster to help bo Nike and move him along
as far as his career.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, it certainly could be. I mean, you know, why
not just get all of the guys at the forty nine.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
Ers at that point?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Uh No, I mean, you know, whether it's whether it's
Michael Burton coming back at some point, or a guy
like Kyle used Check or or you know, another fullback
on the market that or even in the draft, right,
I mean we've seen them, you know, toy around a
little bit with like Nate Atkins for example, and in
a little bit of backfield, a little bit of full
(08:21):
back type stuff.
Speaker 7 (08:22):
Uh in addition to playing tight end.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
That's the position that we know Sean Payton values. The
thing that Burton's got going into Savor is that he
was one of their best special teams players again.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
This past season. And obviously Denver.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Lost their top core special teamer in Traymon Smith today
going to Houston. So you know, maybe it'll be a
familiar face coming back with Burton, but if not, you
Check is a guy who obviously has has pelts on
the wall and and like you said, it's sort of
one of those, you know, versatile, dirty work guys that
Sean Payton always likes to have one of.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Those in his offense.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So the Broncos go out and get two big guys
in the first wave of free agency. How active do
you expect them to be here moving forward?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Now, Parker?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Do you think that this this was, this is what.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
They wanted to get done.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now they're just going to sort of fill in maybe
some pieces here and there and the rest of it.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
This thing is going to be pretty quiet.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah, I mean maybe, you know, I'm not sure i'mbout
pretty quiet. But I do think obviously typically what you
see is the biggest deals, you know, going out on
day one, and so you know, there was never I
don't think a sense that the Broncos were going to
you know, pay top of the market money. They didn't
need an offensive tackle, obviously, it didn't seem like they
were going to play for you know, Milton Williams or
(09:40):
some of the guys that got the biggest dollar figures.
But I think they'll still be active and maybe smaller deals.
But you remember last year, like the they signed Josh Reynolds.
I think that was at the very end of March
or maybe even in early April by the time it
got announced. And so you know, whether you're thinking about
a veteran wide receiver or you know some depth you
(10:03):
know in the secondary, more depth in the secondary, or
or you know a running back maybe that you want
to bring in to compete, even if you're thinking you
might draft one, Like I think you've still got a
bunch of things probably percolating, and I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
They're still working through a lot.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
But you know, these two guys that they got today
were clearly two of the big swings they.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Were going to take.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
And so you know, maybe that maybe the tight end,
whether it's Devin Ingram or somebody else, is sort of
like the last of the primary trio. But then we
saw them, you know, read up with you know, smaller
deals for several several of their other guys like Matt
Parrott and and for Boni the long snapper, and so
you maybe see a little bit more of that and
some some smaller deals here and there.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
So what do you make former Broncos running back Javonte
Smith ach gonna deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Do you think he fits into what they're trying to
do now with Dak Prescott.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Yeah, I mean, I think a boutch of Monte at
this point.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
It is like, and George Payton said this to the Combine,
he's still one of the best you know, blocking, you know,
pass protecting running backs in the NFL, And I mean,
it would be a great story if you could fully
get his legs back and get back to you.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Know what we saw his rookie year and before.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
That devastating the injury against the Raiders in twenty twenty two. Obviously,
you know the Broncos, you know, they left the door
open to bring them back on and it's a surprise
that he's headed elsewhere.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
But he's got utility. I mean, he'd be a reliable.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
It's not the role he's been in so far in
his career, but it's kind of a reliable third down back,
even if he's not like what you think of as
a prototypical third down back.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
And so you know, he'll find probably.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Find himself a role in Dallas and be a good player.
And then the Broncos, you know, look like their position
to really go pretty young at running back.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Do you think that the Broncos have addressed their biggest
need their needs now, Like, did you think that they
have the flexibility that they were hoping for now heading
into the draft here, assuming that they can find a
tight end like you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Yeah, I think if they get a tight end sign
then they're sitting in pretty good shape. I mean, you
would you would look at it right now and say
that they really need to still upgrade at tight end,
at running back, they probably you know, whether it's little
Jordan Humphrey as sort of like the you know, just
a steady veteran piece at receiver, or if you're really
going to try to like you know, upgrade that group
(12:27):
one more notch. You know, I think you probably would
say that that any or all three of the offensive
steal positions they still need to address.
Speaker 7 (12:37):
But certainly, you know.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
They've they've put themselves in a better position as it
pertains to the draft, which is always what you're trying
to do. You want to build your team through the draft.
You want to build your team through young, you know,
cheap talent, and then you want to retain your own players.
And one of the things about the rest of the
Broncos off season outside of the draft, is that a
big chunk of it is now at this point, like
retaining guys on your roster that you already know are good,
(13:00):
Nick Benito, Zach Allen, Cortland, Sutton, like that's where you
want to be at the franchise, rather than saying, Okay,
you know, we've got to go out and buy everything
on the open market.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
It feels like the team overall is in a much
healthier position today than than it has been in a
long time. And you know, I think Broncos fans are
fired up with the with the two big moves today.
So Parker, thanks so much for spending some time here
breaking down free agency. I know it was a wild
day started with x Twitter being down this morning, panic
(13:32):
for all reporters everywhere. And I'm glad that you made
it through that.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Yeah, catch me on Blues guys, so exactly. Yeah, well
go forward.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yeah we'll get Parker Gabriel threads too. So okay, well, Parker,
thanks so much, appreciate it man, good stuff there. Okay,
have a good night. That's Parker Gabriel from the Denver Post.
Just really good takes as good as you'll as good
an insight as you'll get.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
On the Broncos. They're from Parker Gabriel, So what did
you think? What'd you think?
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Nick?
Speaker 5 (14:03):
Well, you know what, Parker, you know, some very valid points,
some things that we had already talked about, because when
you look at the moves that the Broncos are making,
these were moves that we knew that needed to be made.
As soon as we watched that Buffalo game and the
final second ticked off. Immediately, I'm sure most people were saying, okay, well,
(14:25):
here are the areas of need that.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
The Broncos definitely need to target.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
And the first day of free agency they opened up
with it and you had to figure that they've had
a lot of these conversations going to the combine, looking
at the young crop of players coming out this year,
they decide, okay, well want to we want to make
sure that we pull the trigger on these particular players,
which should give us an opportunity to make some noise,
(14:51):
you know, in the draft and bring in some adequate talent,
something that once again George Faeton has done a great
job of.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Yeah, it's just all about building talent, building the roster,
and it does feel like the Broncos are in a
good spot.
Speaker 8 (15:03):
It helps when you got that quarterback. You know, it
definitely helps your mind. So think about this. If you
were building a house foundation, Yeah, you know you're not
gonna started the root first. You need the foundation. Yeah,
that's true, poor the concrete first. Well, we're gonna take
a quick break.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
We're gonna bring on our producer, Zach when we come
back on the other side here, and we'll talk about
whether or not the Broncos are done after two big
moves here on the first day. That's next here Han
Broncos Country tonight, but a nice Heirah Broncos Country tonight.
I'm film Milani filling in for Benjamin alright, hanging out
(15:40):
in studio here with Nick ferguson breaking down the Broncos
big moves here on the first day of the legal
tampering period. You know, you got two days to tamper
here and then the new league year beginning on Wednesday,
and these new deals can all become official and let's
sort of reset the table here if you're just joining us.
(16:02):
The Broncos made two big moves, according to reports, on
the defensive side of the ball, bringing in taloah A Funga,
a big time safety from the forty nine ers, and
then Drake Greenlaw, a stud linebacker also from the forty
nine ers. Those are the two big additions the Broncos
(16:23):
have made. According to reports here, a couple of guys
who are at the top of their position went healthy,
but some injury concerns to go along with them.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
The Broncos also officially.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Have re signed Jared Stidham, so they got their backup quarterback.
They've reportedly done DJ Jones, so the defensive.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Line staying intact there.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
And then Matt Pert, the offensive tackle really that six
guy along the offensive line, also coming back for the Broncos,
but there have been some departures here.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Cody Barton, a.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Bright spot at the linebacker spot last year for the Broncos,
head into Tennessee. Travonte Williams, a guy I think that
so much of Broncos country really fell in love with
that big, strong running back. I remember Nick when he
was carrying those dudes against the Ravens his rookie year.
(17:17):
He took them for a ride, and I think he
became a fan favorite, but after he got hurt, just
wasn't quite the same. Now he's getting make it sort
of deal there in Dallas, so we'll see what he
can do.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Zach Wilson, the.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Third string quarterback last year for the Broncos, getting a
chance in Miami. That could be a good spot for him,
you know, with some of the injuries that Tuas faced,
maybe Zach might get get a shot to prove how
how far he's come since his time at the Jets.
And then treymont Smith, the special team stand up for
the Broncos last year, head into Houston. So it's been
(17:56):
a busy, busy first day here, Nick, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
It's been a busy first day. And I mean, obviously
you're gonna have some departures. But here's a great thing
about the Broncos when you look at what they did
in the free agency, but more important, what they didn't lose.
It's not like a bunch of household names and the
time of the year, you're gonna lose some guys, or
you try to retain the guys that you feel as
though are intricate parts to what you want to do.
This be Tollyanas, Cody Barton, you know, playing a great
(18:22):
season that no one had really anticipated. But because when
he came in here, they were just trying to plug
some gaps because they had some injuries, but he ended
up stepping into a starting role along with Justin Trenard and.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
They play well.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
I mean, for me, I'll go back to that Thursday
night game against the New Orleans Saints where Cody Barton
had him one heck of a game. He was just
kind of that guy in the middle and he was
definitely everywhere. But as the season went on, there were
some some weaknesses that started to show in his game.
I go back to the game against Cincinnati. There was
(18:55):
a play where both had PJ lock and Cody Barton
blitzing at the same time, and if Cody Barton stays
to the right of Joe Burrow, he brings a you know,
Chase Brown with him and then that frees up a
free lane for PJ.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Locke and Joe Burrow.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
That was one of the plays where the Bengals really
needed it and they converted. And this is not me
just saying, well, because Cody Barty has now moved on
to someone else, that I'm going to look at this
opportunity to kind of dump on him.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
No, that's not what I'm doing.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
What I'm trying to point out is the Broncos scouting
department and coaches were looking at the same thing.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
I was looking at, how can.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
We get better and have guys on all three levels
contribute to make game impacting plays and not hurt us.
So that's what the Broncos did a free agency, trying
to fill some of those gaps and hopefully that ends
up to being something great for them this season.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Yeah, I mean, you can't keep everybody, right, and if
you can identify those SPADs maybe where you can get
a little bit better, maybe a little bit more athletic
out there, You've got to make those tough decisions. And yeah,
Cody well last year he had one hundred and six
combined tackles, a couple of interceptions, one and a half sacks.
So like for what he was brought in to do,
(20:10):
he did a nice job for the Broncos. So provided
a little bit of depth there. But yeah, you can't
can't keep everybody, and you got to say goodbye to
some people and that's just the NFL business. Let's bring
in our producer here, Zach Segers. Zach, would you think
of this busy first day here for the Broncos.
Speaker 9 (20:27):
I'm a big fan of it, you know, I think
left sorry linebacker and safety were points that they absolutely
had to address on the defense. Sean Payton brought it
up in that interview with Kay Adams about you know,
having to fix the spine of the defense and really
upgrade that area. I think your point is dead on there, Nick,
and they did so. I think there's some risk in
these swings, but you're taking swings on guys with all
(20:49):
pro potential. We've already seen Hufonga get.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
That all pro nod.
Speaker 9 (20:54):
Drake Greenlaw hasn't gotten that yet, but the last time
we saw him, you know, healthy that season and where
the Niners were in the Super Bowl, he was a
top five linebacker in the league. And you know, there's
definitely risk that they have continued or they keep suffering
these injuries and they're not able to get on the field,
and that would be a problem. But there's real upside
(21:16):
that you're getting two elite players at positions of need,
potentially turning these areas of weakness into areas of strength.
And based on what we know so far about the
guarantees in the contracts, the Broncos don't seem locked in.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So even if it does.
Speaker 9 (21:31):
Go the bad way, you know, I think you can
get out of it with honestly taking a dead cap
hit that's smaller than the one they're already absorbing this
year from the Russell Wilson cut. That was a great
point Nick made while we were talking about this. During
the breaks. They're used to dealing with this amount of
dead cap. Even if both these deals go horribly wrong,
they'll be dealing with less than twenty twenty six than
(21:52):
they are right now. So upside sky high, and even
the downside, I think they're pretty well protected.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Here's the other thing about these two pigs additions rather
with Greenlaw and Hafannga is like both of these guys
when they came out of college, you know, they were
fifth round picks that really played.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
And played well.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
So that kind of stake stays true to what the
Broncos have done under George Payden, having guys who were
not first rounders come in and contribute. And some teams
and some fans look at rosters when they're being constructed.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
They want the sexy splash.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
They want a team full of former first rounders, and
sometimes that doesn't.
Speaker 6 (22:32):
Always work out.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
But having guys who know how to fit into a puzzle,
and that's when I think about building a team.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
If I were a GM.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
I look at it at like it's a fifteen hundred
piece puzzle. Now you can start in the corners or
you can start with the centerpiece.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Either way, you have to build that out and you need.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Pieces so you can see the entire you know, puzzle
and the entire picture. And I think that is what
has all He's been the mindset of George Fad How.
Speaker 6 (23:03):
Do I build this team?
Speaker 5 (23:04):
And yeah, you know what, were there some rough years
with Russell Wilson, Absolutely, but you saw a lot of
guys produce. Unfortunately the team was not able to get
into the playoffs. They did that with bow Knicks, and
right now the Broncos are still thinking, Man, they exceeded
all expectations in the first year of bow Knicks, And
(23:25):
I'm like, look, if we fine tune, you pull out
your your Phillip screwdriver and you find tune of little
screws here and there. Now you're talking about a team
that is not a Super Bowl contender playoff contender, because
now we have to look at it from a babystep standpoint?
Am I wrong in that frame of mind? Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Not at all?
Speaker 9 (23:44):
And they're not taking a step back with these moves exactly.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
They haven't lost anyone.
Speaker 9 (23:48):
They retained DJ Jones, who was their biggest free agent,
and then they take the two. I think anyone would
have said those are the two biggest weaknesses on defense
right now and again chance to turn him into real strengths,
I think.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
But they wouldn't have been in a position to get
these two guys if the health concern wasn't there. And
I think that for the Broncos, you can sort of
like lean on a guy like bau Lowry a little
bit who's done a great job here with a player
health and performance for the Broncos, and so you just
ask him, hey, okay, you know these guys have some
(24:21):
injury concerns, like what do you like?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
You know way in on this.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
You know, that's sort of how the process works, right Nick,
Like you get all these guys in the room, you
talk about your ideas and say, Okay, here's what I think,
here's what I think, here's what I think. Hey bo
on the medical what do you think here? And he'll
weigh in and let you know, hey, okay, here's what
I've seen from Dre. You know, he tried to come
back play. He played in two games last year, then
(24:45):
he had a calf deal. Okay, hey, what do we
think how did he look in those two games coming
off the Achilles? And then that's how you balance the
risk reward, right, Nick, You like like, can you sort
of take us into the player side and then also
the teams and how free agency and some of this
stuff comes together.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Yeah, like after the season, you know, everyone in the
front office gets together because there is an evaluation of
the players, but more importantly, there's an evaluation of the coaches.
Because what I've learned in my time as a player,
but especially as a coach, you have to be able
to coach your coaches. What is it that we stand for?
(25:24):
What are we trying to teach? You want to make
sure that everyone's on the same page. So you go
back and you watch the film, and you don't watch
the games that you perform well, you watch the games
that you didn't perform well. So I'm guessing the Broncos
watched a lot of that Buffalo tape because once again,
that is one of the teams, the top teams in
the AFC, that you're gonna constantly be constantly being competing
with so you need to see, okay, well what did
(25:47):
Brandon Bean, What were they doing to Sean McDermott doing
with their team?
Speaker 6 (25:50):
How did they build that team out?
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Looking at the fact that Josh Allen there was no
step On Diggs, right, you had Amari Cooper, but he
wasn't the same with Marii Cooper. But they had different
guys contributing, and that is what you want to look at. Also,
you want to look at the bull I mean the
Detroit Lions. Why was it that they were so successful?
What were they doing and how they change things in
(26:13):
a short period of time, And you look at it
and you kind of steal and borrow and you look
at the other team because let's me telling honest, no one's.
Speaker 6 (26:21):
Reinventing the wheel here.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
You're not Football is football.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
Football is football.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
So you go back and you look at your your
your players. You put guys up on the board. This
is your top tier guys, this is your second tier guys,
here's your third tier guys, and you hope to hit
on those first tier guys. And from a team standpoint,
when you get to this point, you're hoping and you're wishing.
There's a lot of conversation back and forth, some hypothetical
feel well, what if I decided to do this?
Speaker 6 (26:47):
What would you do? Right? So you just kind of
get a feel for and.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That that that legal tampering period of the combine, And
from a player standpoint, you're just looking at the fact, Okay,
well in the previous.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
Year, how well did that play?
Speaker 5 (27:01):
If you look at other guys around the league at
your position, you look at their injuries, you look at
their age, what they made last year, because you and
your agents are compared contrasting. If Phil Mulani goes off
the board, he got a four year deal worth you know,
twenty million million dollars a year. I like it, Okay,
(27:21):
I know why he likes to do right. So you're saying, okay, well,
if I'm Nick Ferguson and my status are similar to yours,
whatever you get now you've helped me out.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Yeah, exactly, Like I think the Broncos probably maybe looking
at Nick Bolton, Okay, what that could be like maybe
our top guy, Okay, chiefs resign him. Okay, who's our
next guy? Maybe Dre Green laws that next guy. Okay,
here's what the market looks like. They're weighing all these
types of things and so that they've got a game
plan coming into this period here and so like for example,
(27:52):
like if you look at a guy like Emman Ingram,
he probably feels like he's got a little bit of
leverage on his side, being arguably the top tight end
available in this free agent class.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
So it's been reported Mike Cliff.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Says, Hey, Ingram comes into town on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
They take him over to Shanahan's doing nice.
Speaker 6 (28:13):
Not a bad place to go eat?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Well done, Nick, or what what are we doing there? No?
Speaker 6 (28:18):
No, no, no, no, well meeting.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Well okay, okay, gotcha.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Then you know.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Then they spend all day together at the facility and
Cliss says that he's left the building with no deal. Right,
So what do you think went on at the building today?
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Well, well, both sides were a little far apart.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Possibly this is hypothemics.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
Yeah, hypothetically as far as what the monetary compensation is
going to be. And you know, Evan Ingram understanding his position,
there's not too many times you're going to be in
this position where you can get another deal. So you
think about this would be Evon Ingram's probably fine, new
(29:02):
contract you got one with the Giants and got one
with the Jags. So he said, you know what, there
are some other teams that are buying for my ability.
One of them might be within the AFC West. So
let me go see what they're saying. If they're kicking
the same thing that you're saying, I'll come back here.
If they're sweetened up the pot, then I'll go there
(29:25):
as well, because you also have their you know, factor
in taxes as well, right, And I would say, you know,
California's there, high taxes, high gas, everything's high in California.
Speaker 6 (29:38):
So these are the things that you factor in. And
who's to say that the deal is dead?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Yeah, no, no it's not.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
You're just trying to figure out the best financial position
for you and your family, but also which team is
going to give you the best opportunity to continue your
career at a high level. So it had to be
expected now Broncos Country. I know we all wanted the
Broncos to ink that deal before Evon Ingram left. But
(30:05):
once again, even if you don't get an ever Ingram,
I mean there are other guys out there.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Yeah, I think that Evan is probably like that top guy,
you know, But Juan Johnson is the is the next
guy there. I think maybe obviously knows Champagne from their
time together with the Saints. But yeah, there's like a
little bit of a back and forth, right, there's gotta
be some negotiation here, and you know you don't want
(30:32):
him to leave if you really want him, but you
also have to be like, hey, we can't overpay here.
You kind of got to play the game, right, you
gotta say, fine, you could leave, you know, like, you
know our offer stands, and you know, you just got
to try.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
And there's a little bit of a game that goes on.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
I think it is a cat and mouse type of game,
and sometimes a team will.
Speaker 6 (30:53):
Kind of push you in a dire situation like.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Okay, well here here's our final offer. Yeah, usually that's
what happens. Well negotiations, here's our final offer. This is
all we can do, knowing good and well that they
can do more than what they're actually presenting, but they're
just trying to see how far you think or how
far are you willing to go?
Speaker 6 (31:13):
Yeah, but you always have to remember what you're worth and.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
When it comes to anything that you do is based
in the Lobo production and if Evan Ingram feels as
though with the Broncos gave him an offer and it
was too low and then.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
Go shoot your shot. This is your last contract, so
go ahead and shoot your shot.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Yeah, Evan Ingram eight years in this league.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
You know, had the torn labram last year, so he's
coming off of that. So I imagine the Broncos leverage in
this situation is saying, look, Joan Johnson's still out there
and if that doesn't work out, we can draft. This
is a really heavy tight end class coming into this draft,
so you know, if you don't want to be here.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
That's fine, Well thank you for coming out. I'll I'll
let you. Yeah, I mean thank you, right, I mean okay.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
You don't want to backdoor yourself into a situation that
you feel uncomfortable about, because at the end of the day,
no matter what the amount of money you gree you agree.
Speaker 6 (32:05):
Upon, it has to be a win win.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
You just can't feel as though, man, I just walked
there like a sucker.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Yeah, you don't want to feel like, Oh, you don't
want to feel you want everybody to be happy.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
That's what I got to give up something, You got
to give up something to compromise. Well, see here, that's
a word that's not often used and negotiations in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Compromise, Yeah, because you want guys to feel like they're valued,
you know, and they're like, hey, if you come join
the Broncos, they're going to treat you fairly. You know,
you don't want to have this bad reputation as a
team too. So but here's the other thing.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
Too, when you when free agents go into the team, right,
it's like a job interview. See see they are interviewing you,
so you should interview them too as well.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Totally totally because you don't want to. You don't want
to get locked into a bad spot exactly.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
That kind of leads to my next point. We got
to take a quick break there.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
But I'm wondering, Nick, what do free agents think of
bo Nicks to does a guy like emmin Ingram want
to come to Denver for an opportunity to join this offense.
So we'll talk about that next here on Broncos Country tonight.
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