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March 13, 2024 11 mins
On this episode of "Broncos Now," Sydney Jones and Aric DiLalla discuss the Broncos’ first day of free agency, who the team re-signed and what toexpect over the next couple of days. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher or wherever you find your podcasts. Make sure to leave a rating and review.

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's a Broncos Country.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Welcome back to the Broncos podcast network and YouTube for
the latest episode of Broncos Now. As always, we're your
host is Sidney Jones. And coming up on today's episode,
Broncos lead writer Eric Delala joins the show.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
We'll take a look at some of the teams and moves.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
At the start of free agency, and what Broncos are
returning for another season.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
All that more coming up.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Joining me here on today's episode of Broncos and Now
is Broncos lead writer Eric Dealala. Eric, thanks for joining
me on today's episode. Busy week here at the team headquarters.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
You got it said, Yeah, it's exciting that the new
league year is here. Free agency has officially begun and
going to take that next step toward next season.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yeah, free agency has officially begun, but the fun really
started on Monday through legal tampering period. A lot of
moves around the league this week.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Eric, Yeah, that's right. You see some of the big
names off the board quickly. Obviously, we know that Broncos
were not going to have the same approach they did
last season when they went out and got Mike mcglinch,
Ben Powers, some I JP, Ryan, Zach Allen. I mean
last year that was the kind of the big free
agency wave that teams make from time to time. George Payton,

(01:09):
Sean Payton. They said not to expect that this year,
So no surprise there that the Broncos were a little
bit quiet, but said they were able to retain some
of their key guys that were on the roster last year.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yep, absolutely, Eric, We'll start with the first guy that
they resigned on Monday. They brought back safety at PJ Lock.
He signed a two year deal here. Super excited for him,
so well deserved.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, PJ Special teams contributor his first three seasons in Denver,
ends up starting eight games last year, makes some big plays,
as you know, the interception against the Packers to win
that game, as a couple of key forced fumbles, really
showed himself as a physical player, a rangey player on
the back end. We know that Justin Simmons has moved on.
The Bronc has parted ways and released him last week,

(01:50):
and so it's an opportunity for PJ.

Speaker 4 (01:52):
Lock.

Speaker 3 (01:52):
We'll have to see kind of how that safety room
shakes out here in the coming days, coming weeks. As
we approached the season, but a big opportunity for PJ.

Speaker 4 (02:00):
Lock.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
And you know, he's just one of these these guys
that has talked about he wanted to be here, wanted
this opportunity, wanted to continue with this team in this environment.
As coaching staff, so excited for PJ.

Speaker 4 (02:12):
Lock. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
I was going to say, Eric, I know you talked
to him on Monday, and he seems thrilled to be back.

Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, he was fired up. He had his family with him.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
You can tell when these guys get that kind of
that first or that second contract rather what it means
to them.

Speaker 4 (02:25):
And so he's excited to be back in Denver.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, well deserved. Like I said, Well, also, Eric, the
team brought back kicker Will Lutts. He'll be here for
an additional two seasons as well. You know, we really
saw that special teams unit take a big step forward
last year. So we'll just continue to grow this next
couple of seasons.

Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, and a priority obviously ahead of the season to
go out and trade for Will Lutts. Got him here
right before the season started and really found his groove
last year. He was the AFC Special Teams Player of
the Month in November did not miss a field goal
in three games that month and really found a lot
of success. I believe you only this two field goals

(03:01):
inside of fifty yards all season, made the second most
field goals in a season in franchise history. Made some
big kicks for this team. And so he's a guy that,
again you don't want to have to go through that
kicker competition every year. He showed with his ability as
consistency that he's among those top guys in the league.
We know Sean Payton valued him, and so to have

(03:22):
him back is also crucial, and like you mentioned, it
maintains that consistency in that kicking group.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
Definitely.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah. And then today on Wednesday, the team also re
signed title Adam Troutman and then fullback Michael Burton as well,
So they'll be returning here to Denver. You know, two
key contributors there on offense. Why do you think it
was so important for the team to bring them back?

Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, Well, I think in general, all these guys the
Broncants are trying to build kind of still build this culture,
build this program. It's a team first mindset. You know,
we've heard Sean Payton talk so many times about the
procurement of players and having guys that this really matters too.
And so I think as you continue to build this
team in that image, it's important to have guys that

(04:01):
want to be here. And certainly a guy like Mike
Burton said, he wants to be here. He wants to
see this thing through. He's as selfless as they come.
I mean, I think back to that play against the
Chargers last year. He picks up a blitz in the pocket.

Speaker 4 (04:15):
L J.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
Humphrey, catches the ball, runs down for a touchdown it
but he doesn't get to the end zone if Michael
Burton isn't forty yards down.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
The field, right, it was impressive.

Speaker 3 (04:22):
Sean Payton after that play said, I think it was
the next day, he compared it to Champ excuse me,
the Benjamin Watson effort against Champ Bailey here way back
in the Divisional round against the Patriots almost twenty years
ago now, and so that speaks to how special that
play was. Obviously, a fullback, it's kind of that position
where you don't get a lot of credit, a lot
of accolades, but you just play hard. And he's a

(04:44):
special teams contributor as well. I think we know how
valued he is in the building. I'm saying with Adam Troutman,
I mean a guy that he was the leading receiver
as a tight end. I think the Broncos would probably
say they need more production at that spot. But he's
a guy that played seventy percent of the snaps. He
could catch the ball, he.

Speaker 4 (05:00):
Could block in line.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
He's a guy that again just kind of did it
all for the Broncos, and that selfless mindset, I think
is what this team's looking for. So bringing back those
two guys important pieces for this team moving.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
Forward, definitely.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
And Eric, you said you talked about Seawn's culture and
continuing to build that and think about the guys they
already resign, you know, Will Luds, Adam Trumpman, Michael Burton,
guys that have already been under Shawn in different regimes too.
So just continuing to build that and bring back guys
who know that culture.

Speaker 3 (05:29):
Well, yeah, definitely that's a good point. You know they've
played for Sewan before. Obviously PJ played form last year
decided hey I want to be back under a Sean
Payne coach team and just continue to build this and
take small steps, but continue to work toward the ultimate goal, definitely.

Speaker 4 (05:45):
Eric.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
Now that the league year has officially begun, that Jerry
Judy trade has become official. The Broncos traded him to
the Browns for a twenty twenty four fifth and a
sixth round pick this year. So what type of flexibility
do you think that gives the Broncos in this year's draft?

Speaker 3 (05:59):
Then, Yeah, a good question, and I think one, You've
got three fifth round picks now, so it is a
chance if you're looking to add young talent to stock
up kind of in those middle rounds day three of
the draft and find some younger talent. We talk a
lot about first round picks and second round picks, but
we know Sean Payton George Payton in the past have
found some really key contributors in those late rounds. So

(06:21):
I wouldn't kind of discount sort of the value of
just having those picks if you do pick kind of
in that position and find some of these guys. I mean,
Sean Payton in the past has found guys like Zach Streeve,
Marcus Colston in the seventh round. Joh Reevans, a future
Hall of Famer, was a middle round pick. We certainly
have seen the success that George Payton has had Jonathan Cooper,

(06:41):
for example, a seventh round pick, So some of these
guys in the mid to late rounds can still be
key contributors, and certainly I think the Broncos as they
build this thing, are going to need guys like that.
The other thing it gives you is the chance if
you want to package some of those picks, maybe you
can move up a little bit. The Broncos do not
currently have the second round pick as we sit here

(07:02):
and talk SID, so you know, maybe it gives you
some flexibility to get up a little bit. You know,
the Broncos always talk about having the flexibility to trade up,
trade back, stay where they are, and so who knows
exactly how that plays out. But we know George Peyton
loves picks. We know Sean Payton has a history of
trading up, and so maybe this gives you some flexibility there.
But I think more than just the picks, it also

(07:23):
gives you a chance to see more of Marvin Mims
most likely and excited about that, Yeah, Sean Payton said
at the combine, really the only thing that held Marvin
back offensively last year was the Broncos in terms of
the opportunities he was able to get. He played the
same position as Jerry Judy, and so we saw that
maybe you know what Marvin could do when he had
his opportunities, and now I would expect that he gets

(07:44):
more opportunities and just an exciting young player with a
lot to prove, you know. He I think talked at
the end of the season about I did some good things,
but I want a lot more. Yeah, and you know,
he knew he had to be patient last year, just
with as many guys as the Broncos had in the room.
Feels like coming up, Marvin Mams is gonna have a
big chance to shine, definitely.

Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, a lot of potential for him in the passing game.

Speaker 2 (08:07):
Eric. On the other side of things, two former Broncos
have found new homes. Josie Jewel he's headed to the
Panthers in Carolina. And then there are reports out there
that Lloyd Kushiambary is headed to Nashville with the Titans.
Glad to see them go, but excited for them in
their next step.

Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yeah. Two guys that have been here a long time,
you know.

Speaker 3 (08:25):
Josie Jewel, the outlaw, made a lot of big plays,
Sir Lloyd Kushimary the third one of our favorite of
our favors. You know, a third round pick who started
a ton of games here for the Broncos.

Speaker 4 (08:35):
Yeah, sad to see them go.

Speaker 3 (08:36):
I think that's that's part of it, when you have
good players that sometimes they they're gonna head to free
agency and they're going to move on. I do think
the good news is, you know, we'll see kind of
what the Broncos choose to do at inside linebacker, and
I think George Peyton said at the combine that it
looked like Drew Sanders was going to move to outside linebacker.
Maybe we'll have to see how that all plays out,

(08:57):
but certainly somebody on need to slide in next to
Alex Singleton there. And then we know that Broncos have
a lot of confidence and guys like Luke Wattenberg, Alex
Forsyth there potentially at center, so you never rule out
any additional guys coming in, right, but especially at center.

Speaker 4 (09:15):
I think the Broncas have talked about.

Speaker 3 (09:17):
The excitement and the potential that those guys have, and
we heard George Payton talk at his end of season
presser and refer to a bunch of these guys in
last year's rookie class as potential future starters, and so
you know that's part of this league is you've got
a draft, Well, give guys a chance to step up.
And now some guys are going to get that opportunity.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (09:37):
Well, there's still a lot of reports out there, but
nothing official from the team yet. So for Broncos fans
out there, please stay up to day on our social
media channels on Denver Broncos dot com. We'll have a
lot of coverage of who the Broncos signed in the
next couple of days. But Eric, I know it was
just a starter free agency, but what do you think,
Broncos fans, Broncos Country, you can really just expect over
the next few days here.

Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, you know, I think again, we heard George Payton
say for free agency ever started that this is not
going to be the approach of last year. We're not
going to go out and sign a ton of guys
to huge contracts right away. That doesn't mean there's not
value still to be had, and so I would expect
the Broncos to add guys. You know, we'll see is
that do you wait a week do you wait a
couple of weeks, do things really slow down and then

(10:17):
you you know, find some guys that are looking for
an opportunity. We'll have to see, but certainly, just the
nature of the NFL, more moves are on the way,
and there's nothing wrong with finding value right and finding contributors,
kind of that second and third wave, So you know,

(10:37):
it might have to be a little bit more patient
than last year. We're kind of the the big hitters
were off the board quickly, but I think still some
exciting things to come.

Speaker 2 (10:47):
Definitely, yep, lots to come in the next couple of days. Well, Eric,
I appreciate you joining the show today.

Speaker 4 (10:50):
You got it said.

Speaker 2 (10:52):
That's going to do it for today's episode of Broncos
Now Broncos Country.

Speaker 1 (10:54):
Thanks so much for tuning in, which.

Speaker 2 (10:56):
Right back here on the Broncos Podcast Network on YouTube
and next week for another episode.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
I will see you all then.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
MHM.
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