The Denver Broncos have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever when NFL free agency kicks off next month: strengthen their roster while simultaneously weakening their arch-nemesis'. And it seems they're going to try.
League insider Tony Pauline reported Tuesday at the Scouting Combine that Denver has "expressed interest" in Kansas City Chiefs star L’Jarius Sneed, arguably the top cornerback slated to hit the open market.
"Some speculate partnering Sneed with Patrick Surtain would give Denver a formidable duo at the cornerback position," Pauline wrote. "Yet others have told me outright that Sneed would offer insurance if they dangled Surtain as part of a package to move up and draft one of the top-rated quarterbacks, something I originally reported from Shrine Bowl practices."
A 2020 fourth-round pick with a pair of Lombardis on his resume, Sneed has steadily morphed into an elite corner, equal parts a solid tackler (60 solo stops last season), blitzer (three quarterback hits), and pass-defender (14 breakups, two interceptions). He graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 30 CB among 127 qualifiers.
Because of this, the 27-year-old is due for an astronomical payday, becoming one of the league's richest at his position. Which the Broncos, currently over the salary-cap threshold, cannot provide. He might not even make it to market as the Chiefs reportedly are likely to use the franchise tag to retain Sneed. Which the Broncos can do nothing about.
"The Broncos would have to shed salary for any of this to happen, as they are still over the cap and Sneed would have to hit the free-agent market," echoed Pauline. "There are some who still believe the Kansas City Chiefs could use the franchise tag on the cornerback."
Be it Sneed or another A-lister, Denver's dire financial straits will prevent the club from shopping for top-shelf groceries. General manager George Paton intimated Tuesday that perusing the bargain bin is a more plausible approach to the league's signing period.
“We’re going to be strategic. We’re not going to be as aggressive as last year," Paton admitted. "We have flexibility, but we’re going to just be more measured and try to fill specific positions and specific needs throughout the team. I feel like we’ll have the flexibility to do that, but we can’t do that every year and be aggressive like we were last year.”
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