The Denver Broncos Offseason Profile

In 2006 the Denver Broncos were one of the great underachievers of the league. Expected to win their division, the AFC west, and make the playoffs was certainly not too much to ask. Even after San Diego burst alive with the skills of LT at the fore, a wild card was still obtainable. Yet through poor defense and turnovers on offense the vaunted Broncos went from a perfect preseason as well as the best defense, the first half of the season, to a team watching the playoffs at home. The single exciting thought at the end of it was that next year new Quarterback Jay Cutler would make all the pain worthwhile. This could very well be the case, as the second year QB from Vanderbilt showed promise in the games he played, but gaping holes and unanswered questions still remained.

Only days after their final loss, on New Years Eve, a startling tragedy befell the already distraught team. Darrent Williams, the up and coming, smash mouth corner starting opposite pro bowler Champ Bailey, was murdered. In addition to many saddened after the loss of such a fine young man, the Broncos were absent a starting cornerback as well as a large presence in the Defense. Shanahan, realizing what needed to be done, traded starting running back Tatum Bell, among others, to get Dre Bly, the pro bowl corner from Detroit. The management had reacted quickly, and the secondary seemed stable once again.

Dre Bly had given the secondary more power, but now a starting running back was missing. Not to worry, Denver snatched up former Titan's running back Travis Henry, at home in the starting role. Henry is coming off an injury plagued season, yet he appears healthy enough, and will have standout rookie Mike Bell to take pressure off at times. So the Broncos have put the running game on sound footing, yet they have already done even more in what has been regarded as the best off-season of any team yet.

The receiving corps has been in question ever since Sharpe and McCaffrey retired and Rod Smith started showing his advanced age. The addition of Javon Walker this past year has been helpful, but tight ends remained average and the other receivers, Rod Smith included, have not been able to help out much. To make matters worse one of the rookies last year who shone, wide receiver Brandon Marshall, has gotten in trouble with the law. So somebody else was needed for young Jay Cutler to throw to, so Denver picked up tight end Daniel Graham who should give a big boost to Cutler's confidence. Still though, the offense could use another good wide receiver to really spread the field and make the still wet nosed QB's job easier. In this light wide receiver Wayne Jarret, who won a title with USC, would give the Broncos an offense to make any defensive back quiver with fear.

The Broncos defense should not be overlooked though, despite the addition of another all pro corner. The defensive line has began to look more like a sponge, giving up good amounts of rushing yards in the last few games. To make matters worse middle linebacker Al Wilson has durability issues in the minds of the management and might be traded. With this knowledge either a defensive end or a linebacker would be welcome. Defensive end Anthony Spencer would provide needed relief for the line, but if Wilson really departs then linebacker might be the more pressing issue, so Paul Posluszny from the storied Penn State linebacker corps might just be the best pick.