When free agency officially begins on March 17, the Broncos will aim to add a new crop of talented players to their roster. The goal every year is to add Pro Bowl caliber players to the roster, and the Broncos have done that often during their free-agent history. Before free agency gets underway, we're taking a look back at the team's previous unrestricted free agent signings — and a few players who were released and chose to call Denver home.
After being released by the Buccaneers in 2003, John Lynch signed with the Broncos and spent the final four years of his career in Denver. He made the Pro Bowl each year and was named to the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 2016 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Ed McCaffrey signed with the Broncos in 1995 and proceeded to be a staple of the offense over the next nine seasons. He posted three 1,000-yard seasons while in Denver and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1998.
Jake Plummer signed with the Broncos ahead of the 2003 season and spent four years with the team. He threw for 11,631 yards and 71 touchdowns and was named to the 2005 Pro Bowl.
Center Casey Wiegmann signed with the Broncos in 2008 after spending seven years with the Chiefs. He made the lone Pro Bowl of his career in 2008 with the Broncos.
Brian Dawkins signed with the Broncos in 2009 and made two Pro Bowls in three seasons to cap a Hall of Fame career.
Michael Dean Perry, a former second-round pick and five-time Pro Bowler in Cleveland, signed with the Broncos in 1995. He made a Pro Bowl for the Broncos in 1996.
Emmanuel Sanders joined the Broncos in 2014 and quickly made an impact, as he made the first Pro Bowl of his career in his first season in Denver. He added another Pro Bowl berth in 2016 and spent six seasons in Denver, where he caught 404 passes for 5,361 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Louis Vasquez signed with the Broncos in 2013 and made a Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro that season. He played three total seasons in Denver and was part of two teams that advanced to the Super Bowl.
Undoubtedly the best free-agent signing in team history, Peyton Manning won an MVP Award, set numerous NFL records and led the Broncos to a world championship during his time in Denver. After being released by Indianapolis, he picked the Broncos from a number of suitors — and Denver was graced by the play of one of the all-time greats. He was recently elected to the Hall of Fame and will likely soon be elected to the team's Ring of Fame.
Darian Stewart signed with the team in 2015 and spent four seasons in Denver. He made his lone Pro Bowl appearance in 2016 and totaled nine interceptions and four fumble recoveries while in Denver.
A 1996 free-agent signing, Alfred Williams — a Colorado alum — returned home and made a Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro honors in his first season with the Broncos. Williams played four seasons for the Broncos and won two world championships with the team.
A member of the team's 2014 free-agent class, T.J. Ward made a Pro Bowl in 2014 and spent three years with the team.
Aqib Talib had made just one Pro Bowl before he arrived in Denver in 2014 as part of the team's star-studded free-agent class. He would make the league's all-star game in each of his four seasons in Denver and earn a first-team All-Pro nod in 2016. Perhaps most impressively, Talib recorded six pick-sixes while in Denver.
Neil Smith, a former Kansas City Chief, joined the Broncos in 1997 and made the Pro Bowl as the Broncos won their first world championship. He played three seasons in Denver and won a pair of Super Bowls.
Anthony Miller, a former first-round pick by the Chargers, joined the Broncos in 1994 and spent three years with the team. He made a Pro Bowl in 1995 as he caught 59 passes for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Bill Romanowski signed with the Broncos in 1996 and played with the Broncos through 2001. He made the Pro Bowl in 1996 and 1997.
Mark Schlereth signed with the Broncos in 1995 and held down the team's left guard position for six seasons. He made a Pro Bowl appearance in 1998 as the team won its second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
After being released by the Cowboys in 2014, DeMarcus Ware signed with the Broncos and spent three seasons with the team. He made two Pro Bowls and recorded 21.5 sacks in his three years in Denver.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — On March 17, the new NFL league year will begin, and teams will be able to finalize contracts with free agents around the league in attempts to bolster their rosters.
In his introductory press conference, General Manager George Paton vowed the Broncos would be aggressive — but not reckless — and explore every option to improve the team. While Paton also said the draft would be the "lifeblood" of the football team, it's likely the Broncos will supplement those efforts at least in part through free agency.
Free agency, though, is about more than signing new players to join your squad. It's also about retaining your own talented players — and Denver has several that could become free agents in mid-March.
In the coming days, we'll look at the top free-agent talent that could be available on the open market. But first, let's take a look at Denver's own roster.
PENDING UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
Jeremiah Attaochu, De'Vante Bausby, Anthony Chickillo, Demar Dotson, Shelby Harris, Joe Jones, Justin Simmons, Will Parks, DeMarcus Walker, Elijah Wilkinson, Sylvester Williams
Unrestricted free agents are permitted to sign with any team when the new league year begins.
Justin Simmons is clearly the highest-profile player on the team's roster that could hit free agency in March. A second-team All-Pro in 2019, Simmons earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time in 2020 after a five-interception season. Simmons played under the franchise tag in 2020, and the team could choose to use the tag again, as the window opened on Tuesday. The Broncos have until March 9 to decide if they wanted to tag Simmons or another player. The team would then have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with that player, or else the player would need to play the 2021 season on the tag.
Simmons is one of four players in this category who started a significant number of games in 2021. Shelby Harris recorded 2.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, 32 tackles and 11 quarterback hits in 11 games, while Elijah Wilkinson and Demar Dotson shared time at right tackle during various points of the season.
Jeremiah Attaochu was a key reserve with five sacks in 13 games, and Joe Jones has been a core special teams player over the previous few seasons for Denver.
DeMarcus Walker, a second-round pick in 2017, is poised to have his rookie contract expire.
PENDING RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
Jake Butt, Austin Calitro, Troy Fumagalli, Alexander Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, Tim Patrick, Kevin Toliver II
Restricted free agents may be tendered by their existing team. Teams may choose between a first-, second- or original-round tender to place on a player. If a player receives a tender, other teams may still negotiate with them. If another team chooses to extend an offer sheet, the Broncos would have the chance to either match that offer or receive the corresponding pick associated with the tender from the other team. Denver last had another team try to poach a tendered RFA in 2016, when the Dolphins signed C.J. Anderson to an offer sheet. Denver matched the offer and retained Anderson's rights. For more details on the RFA process, click here.
The Broncos have three starters from 2020 who will be restricted free agents and must be tendered ahead of the new league year. Tim Patrick enjoyed a breakout year in Courtland Sutton's absence as he caught 51 passes for 742 yards and six touchdown passes in an increased role. His career totals prior to 2020 were 39 catches for 533 yards and a touchdown, which speaks to how much of an impact he made last season. Head Coach Vic Fangio spoke highly of Patrick late in the season, saying that Patrick will "never be on the [roster] bubble."
Alexander Johnson, meanwhile, started all 16 games at inside linebacker and tallied 124 tackles, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a sack, four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. Josey Jewell remains under contract in 2021, but the Broncos would need to find a new starter at inside linebacker if they move on from Johnson.
Lindsay, the only Pro Bowler among this group, may be the most interesting player to watch in this category. He started eight games, but after two 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, his output dipped to 502 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also missed five games due to injury.
Reserve tight ends Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli, linebacker Austin Calitro and cornerback Kevin Toliver II are also restricted free agents.
PENDING EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS:
Calvin Anderson, Trey Marshall, Diontae Spencer
Exclusive rights free agents may only be tendered by their current team and are not eligible to negotiate with other teams.
Diontae Spencer made his mark in 2020 when he became the first Broncos to return a punt for a touchdown since 2015. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for that return, and he averaged 15.8 yards per return on the season. He appeared in 11 games in his second year in Denver.
Calvin Anderson started a pair of games last season when forced into action because of injuries along the offensive line, while Marshall is a reserve safety who contributed largely as a special teamer in 2020.
