Free agents the Denver Broncos could consider at each defensive position

The great waves of free will are over, but that doesn’t mean that Denver Broncos have finished building.

A few dozen big names are still on the market, and the Broncos have enough room under the salary cap to get one. Here’s who could tempt the Broncos on defense…

Edge

Yannick Ngakoué, 29 years old

Ngakoue has failed to find his footing in the NFL. Over the past six years, he has played for five different teams. He has played well, too.

Ngakoue produced at least eight sacks in each of his first seven NFL seasons. He only had four last year while playing for the The Chicago BearsThis is the first time he has not reached this mark.

The Broncos could likely add Ngakoue on a one-year deal without jumping through too many hoops. He would be their most consistent passer from day one, and that could be valuable. Denver made a similar decision last year to bring in Frank Clarkwhich did not go as planned.

The Broncos will likely rely on their young pass rushers, but they could certainly justify the addition of Ngakoue.

Defensive line

Hassan Ridgeway, 29
Mike Purcell, 33 years old

The Broncos added depth to their defensive line this offseason, but they still could use a defensive tackle.

Ridgeway would be a perfect fit for this role. Injuries have kept him off the field often throughout his career, but as a rotational defensive tackle, he could be the piece that puts the Broncos’ defensive line over the top.

Another option is Purcell, who spent the last five years with the Broncos. There may not be much tread left on his tires, but bringing him back for another year could be valuable.

Linebacker

Shaq Leonard, 28 years old
Kwon Alexander, 29

The Broncos could definitely use a second starting linebacker.

The team likes Cody Bartonwho was added this offseason. The Broncos see potential for growth despite Barton being 27 and playing for his third team. Jonas Griffithanother young man, 27 years old, is the other option.

Two linebackers stand out from the rest on the free agent market.

Leonard is a four-time All-Pro, including three first-team selections. He was one of the league’s top linebackers before injuries slowed him down the past three seasons.

Alexander is in the same situation. He was a monster for Tampa Bay during the early years of his career, but has failed to find the same success in recent seasons. Injuries have played a role, including a torn Achilles tendon midway through last season.

Alexander has been the best player recently. Leonard has had the best ball in the past.

Alexander is the much safer option (assuming his Achilles heals), but linebackers age like running backs, so either one is probably a bad investment even if he’s only a few years older than the options the Broncos already have on their roster.

Security

Justin Simmons, 30 years old
Jamal Adams, 28
Micah Hyde, 33
Whenre Diggs, 31
Eddie Jackson, 30
Jayron Kearse, 30

If the Broncos were pushing for a championship, they would be tempted by the safety market. While PJ Locke And Brandon Jones deserve full-time starting opportunities, both are inexperienced and upgrades are available.

Unfortunately, 2024 isn’t a championship year for the Broncos, so they’ll be happy to see what the high school kids can offer.

If for some reason the Broncos decided to add a veteran safety, they could go with just about any flavor they wanted. Adams and Kearse are playmakers in the box. Diggs and Jackson are among the best deep safeties in the league.

Simmons is the best safety on the market, but given that the Broncos released him this spring, it’s almost impossible to see the two teams coming together.

cornerback

Xavien Howard, 30 years old
Adoree Jackson, 28
Stephon Gilmore, 33 years old
Patrick Peterson, 33

As with other positions on the roster, the Broncos would likely benefit from adding a veteran cornerback in 2024. However, the upgrade could be minimal and it would hamper the development of players already on the team.

I see two categories of free agent cornerbacks.

The first is younger guys who could be the answer at CB2 for the next few years. Howard and Jackson fit that bill.

Howard is a former All-Pro, but he hasn’t played at this level in a few years. Before the Broncos can consider adding him, they need to sort out his legal issues.

Jackson hasn’t had Howard’s peak, but he’s trending upward, having had his best season in the NFL.

Other options are older veterans who only have a year or two of game time left. Gilmore and Peterson aren’t what they used to be, but they’re still valuable defenders. They would probably be even more valuable in the locker room.

But what better way to Riley MossFor example? Sitting on the bench and learning from a vet? Or playing and learning by himself?

The answer is probably the latter, which is why the Broncos will likely rule out adding a cornerback unless their situation changes.