The Denver Broncos’ 2022 season did not go nearly as planned, but with a few savvy free agent moves, they can become a competitive team in 2022. The team’s first order of business is to get the head coach right after they fired Nathaniel Hackett before the end of his first season, which has only happened a handful of times in the history of the NFL since the merger.
The Broncos seem to be firmly in the sweepstakes for either Jim Harbaugh or Sean Payton, which would be a good first step for them to get back to the usual winning ways they display.
The second part of the equation is the free agency period, which begins in a couple of months. Some teams will fill their roster holes and various needs in free agency. Some teams who miss on draft picks will look to free agency to cover their mistake up.
Now, free agency is a massive spending contest, and whoever spends the most seems to “win” that period. However, spending a ton of money in free agency does not equate to success on the field.
Free agents for the Denver Broncos that could alter draft plans
Mike McGlinchey, RT
Mike McGlinchey was the 9th overall pick back in the 2018 NFL Draft and has been the 49ers’ starting right tackle since then. He’s not elite, but he’s good at what he does and would bring some much needed stability at this position, which has remained inconsistent for years.
He has missed 13 games in his career, which is a tiny bit troubling, but he’s played in 17 games this season and may be able to test the market since the 49ers don’t have a ton of cap space on their hands.
I’d think that they’d want McGlinchey back since their offensive line is so crucial to what they do, but this will be his big payday, and if the Broncos can pony up what he’d want, then they should pursue him.
McGlinchey is 6’8″, so he’s got the length, and if Garett Bolles were to return, a tackle duo of Bolles + McGlinchey would be quite nice. Perhaps instead of using one of their picks on a right tackle that may or may not develop, why not sign McGlinchey who has proven to be an effective solution at the position?
Free agents for the Denver Broncos that could alter draft plans
Damien Harris, RB
The New England Patriots typically will not shell out money to free agent running backs. Damien Harris is at the end of his rookie contract and will hit the market in 2023. Harris battled some injuries this year which paved the way for Rhamondre Stevenson, a former Oklahoma Sooner, to take the RB1 duties.
Damien Harris rushed for over 900 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021, so the potential for production is there. While paying running backs is not always the best idea, Damien Harris is not going to command top dollar.
Denver Broncos’ stud running back Javonte Williams tore his ACL early in the season, and General Manager George Paton has shown the willingness to invest in the running back position between his time with Denver and Minnesota.
Damien Harris could be a logical fit for a Broncos’ team that needs a true RB1 presence until Williams heals up. Then, once Williams comes back, a Williams + Harris duo would certainly be strong and wear down opposing defenses.
Free agents for the Denver Broncos that could alter draft plans
Connor McGovern, C
Connor McGovern was drafted by the Denver Broncos back in 2016 and was a two year starter for them, playing guard and center. He then signed a three year deal with the New York Jets and will have played out his entire deal.
A free agent in 2023, McGovern has been a steady presence along the Jets’ offensive line, where he’s missed just two games. In total, McGovern has missed just three games in his career. While he does turn 30 in a few months, the shelf life for offensive linemen is usually much longer than other positions, and the Broncos tried to replace McGovern with 2020 draft pick Lloyd Cushenberry.
Unfortunately, that did not work out. Cushenberry was hardly ever able to serve as a serviceable starter for the Broncos. Now that McGovern is a free agent again, the Denver Broncos should have interest. Their offensive line could not protect Russell Wilson all season, so this is a unit that needs a ton of help.
Bringing in guys like Mike McGlinchey and Connor McGovern would be a great start in fixing the offense, which was the worst in the NFL in 2022.