Miles
Well-known member
- Mar 18, 2019
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As the 2019 season wound down, the Broncos' offensive core showed flashes of its potential.
En route to a 4-1 finish, Drew Lock earned the right to be the team's presumptive 2020 starter, Noah Fant solidified himself as the top rookie tight end, Dalton Risner capped off a strong campaign, Phillip Lindsay broke 1,000 yards again and Courtland Sutton put the finishing touches on a Pro Bowl season.
All told, the team's young players demonstrated why the Broncos' offense has potential to take strides in 2020 under new Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur.
When free agency officially begins on March 18, John Elway and the Broncos can add even more talent to the unit.
Here's a look, then, at some of the top players on offense who could hit the open market next week.
[Note: This is not an all-encompassing list. Rather, the following players are among the top options at their positions and could fill needs for the Broncos. The list also does not contain current Broncos who are set to be free agents next week.]
WR AMARI COOPER
The Cowboys reportedly want to keep both Cooper and Dak Prescott in Dallas, but they're running out of time to make that a reality. If Dallas is unable to come to a long-term agreements with Prescott and Cooper by March 16 — the new reported deadline to use the franchise tag — then the Cowboys will likely be forced to franchise their quarterback. If that's the case — and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is approved — Cooper would hit the open market. The four-time Pro Bowler is just 25 years old and caught 79 passes for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019. If the Broncos were to pair him with Sutton, Denver would instantly have one of the more dangerous wide receiving duos in the league. Cooper would likely demand the largest contract of any available wide receiver.
WR ROBBY ANDERSON
If the Broncos don't want to spend top dollar on Cooper, Anderson could be another good option. The speedy wide receiver could help stretch the field and complement Sutton's size and strength. Though he's never made a Pro Bowl, Anderson ranked 13th in the league in yards per catch among players with at least 50 receptions in 2019 and caught 52 passes for 779 yards and five touchdowns. He has recorded at least that many touchdowns in each of the last three seasons, and he has 40 catches of at least 20 yards over that span. The Jets are reportedly trying to re-sign Anderson before free agency begins, but he could be an option for the Broncos if they choose to go after a receiver. With a historically deep wide receiver class in this year's draft, the Broncos could also choose to wait until April to add speed to the offense.