Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - BRONCOS SQUAD SHOW: Why Haven’t the Broncos Signed ANYONE in Free Agency?

Episode Date: March 13, 2026

The Denver Broncos are the ONLY team in the NFL to have not signed an outbound free agent this week. Is there a method to the madness from Sean Payton and George Paton? So far, the Broncos have only retained their own free agents with guys such as Alex Singelton, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Adam Trautman and others. Could the Broncos be gearing up to make a splash trade? Join Aniello Piro, Cody Roark, Sayre Bedinger and Nick Ferguson as they break down the latest news and notes in the world of Denver Broncos football on today's Locked On Broncos Squad Show. Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm an Ily Lopiro, and is there a method to the madness that we've seen from the Broncos in the first week of free agency? I'm Cody Rourke, and apparently the Denver Broncos are clear in caps base to pay us media members to say positive things per source. I'm Sarah Bredinger. It's actually, I'm not even mad. This is amazing. I'm Nick Ferguson, and I'm here so I don't get fine. Very well said. Let's talk about what the bleep the Denver Broncos.

Broncos have been doing this week on today's Lockdown Bronco Squad Show. Let's get into it, fellas. From the South Stans, it's the Broncos squad. Everything Denver Broncos every week. Covering all the big hits and game-changing plays from the Mile High City. The way only the Lockdown Podcast Network can. Gear up and squad up.

The Broncos Squad Show starts now. This is your Locked-on Broncos Squad Show. hope everyone in Broncos country is hanging in there after what has been a very bizarre week to say the least here in free agency for the Denver Broncos. We got the full squad here today in Ilo, Piro, Cody, Warwick, Sarah Bedinger, and Nick Ferguson. We will do our best to process and rationalize the decisions or rather maybe the lack there of that the Denver Broncos have made in this initial week of free agency. And a happy Friday to all of you folks out there. We've made it through another work week. And let me real quick to tell you about our friends over at Fandual,

because today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. And Fandual is giving you a way to turn that energy into an even bigger potential win with college basketball parlay profit boost. Just head to Fandual.com to get started more from our friends over at Fandual a little bit later on in the program. What's up, fellas? How are we feeling? How we living?

I was going to say, how are you feeling, man? I was like, man, it sounded like a funeral before we got started. I was like, man, you're so quiet. I was like, gee, where's the energy? Usually, like, people that have not known, I've worked with the Nilo for a handful of years. This dude is like a cat in a bathtub, nine times out of ten. Every time I see him, he's like, but I do, do, do, do it. But like, you know, we got like the cathartic flies.

Don't worry. Don't worry. Come on, brother. Wake up. It's Friday. Well, I got my caffeine. I did wake up kind of in shambles. I was busy covering the Nuggets last night.

What a win for them against the San Antonio Spurs. So that's a separate conversation. I do the Lockdown Nuggets Postcast as well. So for any Broncos fans, they're also Nuggets fans. You can check me out over there. Shout out my boy, Darien, real quick in the chat. I saw him pop up in one of the Nuggets postcasts, I think, after the Rockets game. So I want to show some love to him and appreciate all you guys out there.

But of course, this is your Lockdown Broncos Squad show. And Sarah, we were chatting a little bit before the show. like it's kind of just comical at this point. Like are the Broncos just like committed to a bit of bringing back all of their internal guys and not signing anyone externally? Like the fact that we're here on Friday, March 13th and the Denver Broncos are the only remaining NFL team not to sign an outbound free agent is crazy right now. It really is.

I mean, I've never seen anything like it. I know that a lot of even folks in the media are saying the same. Like we've never seen anything like this. It feels like Mugatu, you know, I'm taking crazy pills. Like I just don't get it. I've never seen free agency like this, especially for a team that's a contender. But like, I don't know. I can't like I said in the show intro, like I don't even, I'm like Ron Burgundy.

I'm not even mad. You ate a whole wheel of cheese. Like that's just amazing. Like that's what the Broncos are doing in free agency right now. Just bringing everybody back. 17 free agents that were on the board for others to sign. have all come back. It's unprecedented continuity. I just, I mean, that in itself is interesting to me, but it's, it comes along with like, okay, any glass half full take that I can give on this,

I could go to the opposite end of the spectrum and be like, but you said that wasn't good enough last year with linebacker, tight end, running back. On the, on the other hand, it's like, well, nobody knows how good it can be because nobody's ever kept this like a team together this long in pro sports. This is, it's insane. It is insane. And we have our little group chat that we kind of go back and forth with and we're sending updates and it's just like, okay, little Jordan Humphrey's back. Okay, Stradd, Singleton, J.K. Dobbins, right? Like, we just got the news that Jalilma Glofflin is back for the Denver Broncos.

I mean, like the only notable guys that I don't think are back right now, of course, Jonathan Franklin Myers, who signed, I want to say on the first or second day of free agency to the Tennessee Titans. And P.J. Locke, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys. But I mean, I think outside of that, they're like literally bringing the band back together. Adam Troutman, Lucas Kroll, Adam Prentice, right? Like the list just kind of goes on and on and on, Nick, of just guys that Denver is bringing back for one reason or the other. Yeah, they're bringing the guys back and they're hoping to have lightning strike twice in the bottle. And I don't know if that philosophy will work. We'll get a chance to see if it all comes to fruition this season. but I can understand the idea of why the Broncos are probably thinking the way that they're thinking,

looking at what they did to end the season. And we were all there. We saw the game. There were more media people we saw for the final game against the Patriot than we've seen all season long. The Broncos fall short. And they're saying to themselves, hey, gentlemen, fan base, we were right there. I mean, if we have a healthy J.K. Dobbins, things are different. We have a healthy bow knicks.

Things are different. So much so they brought back Adam Trotman and Lucas Crowe. And let's want to say, guys, we know what we're doing. And there's a little part of me that's scratching my head like, I don't know about this big dog. I can understand bringing like your own guys. But at the same time, you got to get together because some of the guys that you're bringing back,

they were not major contributors, right? They were not major contributors. Okay, listen, J.K. Dobbins, Justice Trinard, Alex Singleton, I'm good with that. Yep. And perfectly good with that. But Lucas Crowe, Adam Trotman, or Jordan Humphrey, I'm like, what the hell are we doing?

Because you want to get better at those particular positions. And I thought, I thought I could be wrong. I thought the mission was, how can you make Boe Nix better going into his third year? Because you're going to have to make some key decisions for this roster because at some point, you're going to have to get Bo a new deal. And you want to make sure that you're, have all the statistical data that supports giving him a massive deal.

I don't think the tight-in room. I don't think the wide receiver room with bringing these guys back changes any of that for me. Yeah. And I think you hit the nail on the head with a couple of different thoughts. I'm okay with singleton, Sternard, and Dobbins as well as kind of these fringe players that I'm sitting here like scratching my head. Like why are they doing this? Right.

And your point about Bo Nix and the rookie contract, like, why would you not go in right now? Like now is the time because Bo is going to have a massive cap hit coming up here sooner rather than later. So you would think, in theory, off the heels of a 14-win team, you go up there in short some positions. You double down. And Sarah, like, I know you've been talking about in our group threat, and I've seen you on social media as well.

Like, I think it was the 2014 off season, right? When they brought in like the Akeep to leaves, the DeMarcus Weirs of the world. And that was a team that was on the doorstep of going out there and winning a championship. And obviously they did not do that. And they looked themselves in the mirror. Of course, this is John Elway, who I know,

gets ridiculed for his time as GM, but they went up and doubled down on where they were the previous season. So I don't really understand the rationale necessarily from Denver right now, Sarah. And I think the only thing that I could use to justify it is what Nick said. Like, they truly believe that as Dobbins is not hurt,

and if Beau is not hurt, they go out there and win the Super Bowl. Like, that's the only way to kind of explain it. Yeah, and the unfortunate thing is, is like, unlike in a video game, if you lose to Bowser, you don't get to go start over at the beginning of Bowser's Castle. You have to start at the beginning of the game, right?

That's the penalty for a season being over and not winning a Super Bowl is that you have to start all over. And you don't get to simulate to the number one seed in the playoffs. You don't get to simulate back to the AFC championship game in Denver and now Boe Nix is playing and J.K. Dobbins is playing. And Sean Payton says that he's not oblivious to that. He says he's not oblivious to the team, you know, had a bunch of ones. one-score games that they were,

could have swung either way. You know what I'm saying? And so I'm with Nick. I'm not even saying, I'm not sure about this one, dog. I'm saying it's a no from me, dog. I'm channeling my inner Randy Jackson for that one because I don't like this. I don't. I want the team to add impact players. There's a huge difference between continuity being a good thing on a team that has a massive dead cap hit from Russell Wilson versus a team that made the AFC title game, hosted it,

opportunity to add impact players and is not doing it. And people are calling me out for complaining. But yeah, Anilo, you said it. Like I said, I put it out there. If the Broncos don't have the dog mentality that John Elway had back in 2014, that's not okay with me. And so I'm just delivering on what I said I was going to do. Now, could that change on a dime? A hundred percent. But remember, John Elway, he's one of the best general managers of all time. Don't get it twisted because of how things ended. He built the best offense in NFL history. He built the best defense in NFL history.

And there's zero questions asked about that. He brought in the biggest free agent in pro sports history, Peyton Manning. Like, let's be real, John Elway is the man. And when he saw that things weren't good enough in Super Bowl 48, as I'm sitting there playing Flappy Bird on my phone while the Broncos are getting beat 43 to 8, John Elway's thinking, I'm going out and I'm going to upgrade this MF roster this offseason. and we're going to steal from what our, you know, the opponents that just beat us, what they beat us with. We're going to go out and get Akeeb to leave dog, T.J. Ward, dog. Demarcus where becomes available.

I think the Broncos said, screw you to somebody else in free, Everson Griffin. They were like, hey, sorry, Everson, you're not good enough. Demarcus Ware just became available. And he's on the same flight to Denver as Akeb to leave. And Akeep to leave was almost not a Bronco because Dominique Rogers, Cromartie was about to get re-signed. And then the Broncos were like, oh, Akeb to Lever. leaves available. Screw you, Dominique. You know what I'm saying? Like, this is the mentality that they took absolutely no holds barred. We are going to make sure that we get a Lombardi trophy in Denver. And that's not the vibe that I'm getting from this current front office. So, wait a minute. So, so can I go back in a way back machine and just kind of throw out a phrase

that may be exemplify what the Broncos fans feel like based on what say and I say it about dogs. who let the dogs out because don't seem like the Broncos did a lot of bringing the dogs back into the fold for their team this season. Still on the loose right now. That's weird. What are you dog catcher?

Nobody's found them yet. But here, you know, the Broncos now at this point, after Jalil, right, that's 17, I believe, of 21 free agents they've brought back. The only guys they've not been back yet. I mean, obviously, let JPM go. PJ Locke went somewhere else. But they haven't brought back

Michael Burton, fullback, tied in Mercedes-Lewis. and Senator Sam Moustopher, who had to fill in a little bit later on here, I understand, like, the notion here of, you know, they're keeping their roster intact. I think maybe like the bright side of this and then we can get into a conversation about spinning things, which people seem to think that us in the media, like, we'll have some nice fun with that. This is about building the 90-man roster right now, right? Not your 53. And they're still, and that's why, like, there's still time to add a prolific player right now.

I mean, we'll talk about it today. Denver clearing up cap space right now is an interesting move. Because it's not sign to find something that they're going to go sign a free agent. This has maybe something in line of saying, hey, maybe they're going to go try to trade for some guy. Don't know who it is, right? There's a lot of speculation out there. There's been some talks with obviously to the Eagles. And AJ Brown conversations not being dead.

Not sure if Denver's in on that or not yet. But, I mean, this has been a weird week, folks. I think we can all agree. This has been a weird week. Everyone's sitting there just waiting for the Broncos, like to poke something to say, hey, like, do something. Like, what's happening? Everybody else is, they're the only team right now that has not made an external

Ohio. This is, I would say this is a little unprecedented. And of course it's unpopular. Or, I mean, rightfully so. The Broncos said that they're going to, hey, if I have $50,000 for a day versus $250,000 to renovate, I'm obviously going to get stuff that's going to make it look nicer. Now, I don't know if that was Sean having too many lattes, but I am also curious to see if they've gone into this plan by going in and have these conversations about, okay, what do we want

in free agency? But is there a certain price they're not willing to pay, right? I mean, I don't know. Maybe that could be it, but this is unprecedented. I don't think we've seen anything like this. Has there ever been a team in NFL history that's never made an external free agency more? Not that I can think of. They'll eventually make one.

You're trying to build out, as I mentioned, a 90-man roster. They're not anywhere close to that yet. but for me it is weird. And I do want to also put some water on this whole Sean Peyton stop the Waddle trade twice. That's not necessarily the case. Sean Peyton wanted Jalen Waddle. I know this directly from someone close to Jalen Waddle. John Peyton and the Broncos wanted Waddle.

The Dolphins asking price from what I've been told was too much. It involved two first round picks plus a player. And in return the Broncos, they would get Waddle plus a third round pick. To me, the Broncos weren't willing to do that, not willing to part ways with two first rounds. Two first round pick. Yeah, two first round picks is crazy. I mean, I know the trade was rescinded, but that's what Max Crosby was going for,

and the NFL world thought that was an egregious trade for a couple of different reasons. I think Micah went for two first round picks as well. Like different when it's a pass pressure versus a wide receiver. And before we hit a break, the one thing I do want to say is I think Broncos country, because we've seen a lot of outcry, not like the Broncos fans that are like going crazy

and like DM in players and all that kind of stuff. Like that's going too far. But I can understand. like the general frustration from Broncos fans. Like I could. And here's what I will say too. I think it's justified and validated because ownership and George Payton to a certain extent built up that expectation.

I mean, I keep thinking about this opportunistically aggressive comment that we got from Greg Penner at his end of the season press conference. And that, you know, what is the definition of opportunistically aggressive? I mean, reports indicate that they were trying to get Travis ETS, but he ends up wanting to go back home. Yeah, I saw that.

Travis A-chan, like, what is up with that? That's crazy. Devani, yeah, but point being, I mean, ownership is kind of built Broncos country up to tear him down with that comment from the offseason. Everyone. But did you guys see George Payton's comments with James Palmer

at the NFL Combine when he did that? It was very different than kind of like what we got in the, after the AOC championship, was that because the emotions were high coming off the hills? at the AFC championship, that hey, we're going to be aggressive. Part of me still thinks they're going to be aggressive. It just hasn't come in the way I think that any of us had thought.

Who is there left to be aggressive for? Trading for a big-name player. Trading for a big-name player. Trade for Bruce Halls still is a possibility. Trading for the model. But I'm just saying, like, we don't know yet. Like, it hasn't been the aggressive they said or what we had believed. It doesn't mean that they're not going to be aggressive.

But we don't know yet. Like, I'm not going to believe it until I see it. I think everyone is wondering what is that going to look like. And if so, why so late in the process? And if there's a player or two that you're going, you did all this for, okay, well, you know what? What are you packaging? Who are you sending and who are you getting back in return?

I think that's the bigger question. Because some of the guys that the Broncos reacquired that they had last year, they're not going to really move the needle for other teams. Because when I look at this, guys, there's 32 teams. And if you're comparing this roster to another of the 31 rosters, and if you went by position group by position group, and you say, well, do the Broncos have a better position group than this team, right? And that becomes the question. And if you can't say that you have a better position group than another team, then you need to upgrade that position group because running it back and thinking that you're going to have the same type of results to me that I think is insane because I know how difficult it is to win. And this Yeah, and I think to that point, Nick, like you're looking around, you're seeing all these other teams in the AFC get better, right? Like, like you're seeing what Baltimore's done, adding Trey Hendrickson,

Buffalo with DJ Moore. You know, it's not going to be like it was in this last season. And the fact that you cannot sit here with a straight face and say Denver is a better football team right now than they were when they ended the season. It's essentially the same football team minus JFM and PJ Locke. JFM's lost. Andrei Greenlock. Andrei Green.

Well, adios. But I mean, even the idea of Drey Greenlaw, like even the idea of it was at least like, well, shoot, maybe in year two, he can figure it out and string together more games and bring what the Broncos hoped for in free agency. But now that possibility is off the table. Yeah, yeah. So it is interesting for sure. All right. Let's hit a quick break. When we come back, as Cody alluded to, the Broncos have cleared up some cap space by restructuring a couple of contracts this.

morning. Does that mean a big trade could be coming? If so, for who will speculate when we come back right here on your lockdown, Broncos, squad show. All right, you guys, real quick, let me tell you about our friends over at Indeed, because workplace chaos, deadline stacking up, inbox is overflowing, and the one position you have to fill is still sitting open. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for Indeed, sponsored jobs. Indeed, Sponsored jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for with skills, experience, locations. So you're not just hoping to find the right candidate stumbles across your post.

And here's a stat that says it all. In the minute that I've been talking to you, companies like yours have made 27 hires on Indeed, according to Indeed data worldwide. So if you're hiring, spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes with Indeed sponsored jobs. spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing those candidates who check your boxes, less stress, less time, more results. When you need the right person to cut through the chaos, this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast.

So just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about it to support our show by saying, you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast, terms and conditions apply need to hire. This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. Be sure to check out our friends over at Indeed and let them know that Locked on Bronco sent you. What, Cody, what? Man, it sounds like someone just banging drums in your background here. I don't know what's the trash truck just came by.

It changed. Sorry. You know, when you were doing your Indeed read, I kept thinking to myself, you know, the Broncos need to hire somebody to sign something. free agents. This is a job for Indeed sponsored job. Something like that. Cody.

Genius. Let's go. You are. Cody, why don't you break down for the listener what the Broncos did this morning with respect to restructuring? Yeah, so obviously they converted some of John Frankomarcy. We'd talk about JFM too much. Jonathan Cooper's contract into a signing bonus. So what was it? It created around, I think, what?

$8.2 million in salary cap space, if I'm not mistaken, something along now. line. Is it big in the larger scheme of things? Not necessarily because I think what next year, I think his cap hit is like 17 million. I think so they kind of bounce it around a little bit, but it frees up space this year here for Denver. But my question is like, what are they setting this up for? You know, obviously we know they restructured Quinn Miner's deal. Pat Sir Tan's deal could be restructured here at some point as well. So part of me is thinking, hey, there is a reason for this. the Broncos had plenty of operating cap space coming into free agency as, you know, as was.

They weren't aggressive. So it's like now the big name guys are gone. So the opportunity is like, all right, hey, what is next? They're not just doing this just to roll in, say, hey, we need 50 million to sign a rookie class, which I think is always the biggest myth in all of pro sports is the NFL draft. You need $11 million for your rookie class. That's not how it works. So Sarah, I know Sarah's been spending that web for a while.

So Denver is maneuvering some space. my best bet is that maybe they're going to look at eventually trying to trade for somebody. That's the only thing I could think of right now. Well, can I throw something else in? I brought it up last second. Who's to say that they are not kind of loosening up the purse strings to give Bo Nix? How about that? They would have to be after the season, though.

They can't give him that right now. But I don't even think that's going to be a case. I don't even, even if they give him an extension, his first two or three years, his cap it's not going to be very high because the way they're going to structure it. I mean, I don't know. Who are some guys they could trade for, though? Like, the agent.

AJ Brown. Those are the two that come to mind from here, are Breese and A.J. Brown. Like, I know we got someone in the chat here talking about Malik neighbors and Justin Jefferson. Like, that's not happening. There's a lot of people. There's a lot of people on the Twitter sphere.

They're saying, like, media members are saying that, like, Justin Jefferson is available to trade. No, I don't think. any credible media member has ever said that the Broncos, like Justin Jefferson is someone the Broncos are trade for. If he was available, of course they'd probably pick up the phone, but he's not available. So it's a pipe dream.

This ain't Madden. Like, I do think, I do think it could be A.J. Brown-Bries Hall. I mean, there's a reason, like, for example, the Jets, Darren Moody, who was here, who knows George Payton, who knows this scouting department, knew that the Broncos had interest in Briece. So they're like, we're not going to let the Broncos just steal this guy. Franchise tag. So they're going to make it hard.

They're going to make the Broncos that Denver truly wants him. They're going to make him pay. So I don't know. If that's the case, right, and that's the overall goal, he's trying to get up draft capital and try to make sure you have enough money to sign Breeze Hall. And why even bring J.K. Dobbins back? Why even do that? I mean, if you wanted to say, well, you clear everything so you can go out and get Bruce Hall

and then maybe later on, when the price goes down on J.K. Dobbins, do what they did last season. That would make sense because if they do what you're suggesting to go out to get Brees Hall, this is as backwards for me. I would disagree on that because I think when they knew they weren't going to get Travis E.T.N. They signed J.K. Dobbins, like, pretty promptly after you had to make sure you had some security at your running back position. Like knowing that working at a trade for Brees Hall, if they do go down that route, would probably take a little bit of time to come together. Like, I don't think you could, like, live on a prayer.

Like, if the Broncos don't get Breeze Hall in a trade, at least you can sit back and say, okay, we got J.K. Dobbins. Like, that's where I think the rationale was with that, personally, Nick. Yeah, but, anyway, what's the rationale on the fact that someone was going to scoop up J.K. Dobbins and take him away from him. I think he still would have been one of those guys. Fair. You could have wait two or three weeks because he still was going to be there based on his injury history.

So, Bruce Hall was your overall mission. you should have pushed all your chips to the table. Now, I'm just saying, I don't know if it comes to fruition, but it's more likely if that's the case. Maybe you go after AJ Brown. To me, that's more believable. And I think you're able to accomplish that opposed to trying to go out and get Breeze Hall.

But I get wrong. And the other thing that now that you say that, like I'm thinking about the Jets and where they're at, like the Gino Smith signing, which is crazy for a couple of different reasons. But like Aaron Glenn's coaching for his job. Like the Jets are going to have to try to win games this year. And I understand like maybe the Broncos blow them away with an offer for Breece Hall.

But like signing Gino Smith is a I need to win six games or so to keep my job type of move. And trading Breece Hall, I think would put the Jets behind the eight ball even more at this point. Like maybe GM and ownership steps in and says otherwise. But I think just looking at the Gino Smith trade like they got to win more than what do they win, three or four games last year. Like they got to figure it out somewhat. Like you, I don't think you could trade Breece Hall if you're Aaron Glenn unless you get like a King's Ransom for it. and some protection and security from ownership,

which we know is probably not happening with Woody Johnson. But is that the case right now? I mean, look, I understand, like, Kenneth Walker, Super Bowl MVP, just got paid by the Chiefs, right? But you're not seeing these teams go out there and make these big time moves. We saw the 49 or two years ago with Christian McCaffrey. That was like, wasn't that the last really true big haul for a running back via trade? Off the top of my head, I think so.

Via trade, yeah. That position, the value of that position has gone significantly down because of what we're seeing. It's like you can get younger backs and you can pay cheaper and then move on from after a rookie deal, so to speak, because of the wear and tear of the position. Like that is how the running back position is now viewed in the NFL. That is where like things are a little problematic with that position in the grand scheme of things.

J.K., I mean, his contract, the way it's structured, essentially gives the Broncos an easy out after this year if, in fact, he can't stay healthy. So for me, I think there are multiple layers to this whole. entire roster construction that we are going to eventually see here with Denver. The question is, is who are they going to add if anybody? I still think they're going to add somebody. I still think even at like here in a couple weeks, they're probably going to add some wave three,

three agents. No big name, so to speak, but that's the question right now, especially as a team will eventually start getting ready for the NFL draft, which literally, what, six weeks from now? Yeah, there's still time for them to shore up this roster for sure. I think the only big name free agents that are still on the market that come to mind for me are Dallas Goddard, David and Joku at tight end. Your boy, Debo Samuel, still available, Nick. Joanne Jennings, still out there.

Johnnings, right, yeah. So I also think weren't they connected to Romeo Dobbs? At least they were kicking the tires on that before he went to New England. Yeah, high priced. They don't want to pay that price. So it shows that they're interested in wide receiver. Jalen Naylor was another name as well. Can I just quickly say, too, that the, I know that Bo Nix is not reading books on the sideline,

but the hypocrisy of not wanting to add A.J. Brown is hilarious because A.J. Brown yelled at his head coach on the sideline, and guess who else yelled at his head coach on the sideline? That'd be a QB1 for the Denver Broncos. So if a player is a locker room cancer because of the way that they interact with their coach during games, then Bo Nix and A.J. Brown are in the same category, which, so the hypocrisy about that stuff needs to be. done because players yell at their coach coaches yell at their player it happens and a j brown is a wide receiver who wants the ball i think that's what you want on your team a wide receiver who wants the ball so i think that's funny to me that that stuff keeps coming up about j brown when nobody knows him personally to be able to say like well he wouldn't be a good fit for the locker

room and it's like well shoot the broncos got a lot bigger locker room so i think he'd fit just fine in there. You know, they're going to have a brand new locker room for him to hang out in and some new books to read on the sideline. I believe Jalen Hertz just came out with a children's book. So A.J. Brown could come read that in the Mile High City on the sideline.

I would love that. And I think, look, let's, let's be real about this. Like, this Broncos team needs impact additions. Like the locker room, I'm not saying screw the locker room,

but what I am saying is like, screw the locker room. Like, let's go get a Lombardi trophy because if you can't handle A.J. Brown coming in, a guy who just won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles two seasons ago, then then you don't deserve to win. Like you don't. If you can't handle that, if your culture is so fragile that a person like AJ Brown, a wide receiver who wants the ball, go figure, can't come into your building and you can still win games with a player like that on your team, that means that your culture is too fragile. and the Broncos have built up a strong culture of player leadership, not just coach leadership. An unhealthy locker room is where the coaches are doing all the healthy or the heavy lifting. A healthy locker room is where you have players like Mike McGlinchie, Cortland Sutton,

Garrett Bowles, Talaoa Hufanga, Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooh, like all of these guys, J.K. Dobbins, like the Broncos have locker room leaders. So like the idea that A.J. Brown can't be fit for this team. is ridiculous to me. He's he's not getting in legal trouble. He's not out there, you know, doing things that are getting him arrested.

He's not going 120 miles per hour in a 40, you know, like I just think it's, it's crazy to me that people are making such determinations about him based on interactions on the sideline with his coach. Well, that's a good. Sorry,

go ahead. No, I was going to say, I was going to say, sorry, but why don't we do a quick break? because let's expand on this AJ Brown conversation. Because I think the chat's obviously fired up about it.

I've seen a lot of conversation about it on social media as well. So let's hit this break so we can get that out of the way and then really dive deep in respect to is A.J. Brown the best option. Is that what the Broncos have to do to kind of salvage this off season? So hit a quick break. We'll come back to you just add right here on your lockdown Broncos Squatcho. All right, you guys, real quick, let me tell you about our friends over at Fandual.

College basketball is nonstop. Big games, tight spreads, momentum swings every. single night from early tip-offs to late-night West Coast shootouts, there's always action on the board. And now Fandula is giving you a way to turn that energy into an even bigger potential win with a college basketball parlay profit boost. You could build any college whose parlay you want, rivalry games, ranked matchups, whatever fits your read. You can mix spreads, totals, and player props to match how you see the slate playing out. Then you can apply the profit boost and instantly bump up the potential payout. Go safe, go bold, ride with the team you've

been following all season. It's your parlay, your style now, with more upside behind it. So just head to fenduel.com to get started. That's fendual.com. Fandual play your game. March Madness is starting up next week. You got a little world baseball classic. You got the NBA and NHL as well. So if you're trying to get some action on these games, be sure to check out our friends over at Fanduel. I'm an active fan dual user. It is my personal favorite sports book. And if you're into that, I know it'll be yours too. So be sure to check him out and let him know that lockdown. Bronco Central. All right, welcome on back into the squad show.

Eilo Puro Cody Roar, Sarah Beninger, and Nick Ferguson hanging out with you here on this Friday, getting ready for the weekend. And I think Broncos country can use a weekend. Go touch some grass. It's going to be nice out here in the Mileai City. But let's get right back into this AJ Brown conversation. Cody, I cut you off.

So feel free to pick it up with respect to what you were going to say about AJ Brown and how he may or may not fit with this team. No, I mean, you owe me a Coke because we jinx each other at the same time. Fair. Well, you owe me Chick-fil-A still. Still, I got you. I got you. Next time I see you, we got, we got you.

But my thing with like the AJ Brown thing is you have a lot of people, and to kind of go off the Sarah's point here, mischaracterizing him just because he's a passionate player. You know, I think it's a blatant lie that people are saying that, you know, he goes to the media in Christ, he doesn't go to the media. Look, the media goes to him. He doesn't say anything incriminating in front of the media. A lot of people blow stuff up.

You know, there's been times I've seen A.J. Brown correct the media. When they've come up and they said, well, you know, this. He's like, you guys are just making something out of nothing. You know, he's not going to be a bad teammate. You talk to guys there. I know a coach who's now a defensive corner in the NFL, who is a coach over in Philadelphia last year. I asked him about AJ Brown.

He said, man, it's crazy what people say about this guy. You know, they don't even know the type of man he is. They don't know the type of teammate he is. You know, it's just cameras. What do they do? They pan and they find things that are going on. Like, Nick, my man, you and I, I bet you and I bet you money. You've had interactions with your coaches.

I've had plenty of interactions with my coaches during the course of a game as a player and as a coach. It has happened. So it's just like the mischaracterization of AJ Brown I think is very frustrating because you do have a lot of people who don't know him that are speaking on him just because they read stuff on Twitter. And that is one of the most dangerous things I think about where we're at in the world today, especially with social media. Well, Cody, I don't know if you want me to give you my recounts, my interactions with my coaches, but I'm going to do it anyway. Listen, I'm that type of guy that I've actually thrown a football at my DB coach because he threw it at me. I'm the same guy that tackled my DB coach in Houston with full pads on with the DBs and everyone on defense looking at me like I had two heads. Because at that point, I didn't freaking care.

He'd be trying to make my life from miserable hell and I was going to find a way to pay it back. I'm the same guy with the same coach who find me because I find him and he double and tripled my full. fine, but I said, I don't care. I'm going to pay the money because you're going to pay yours to as well. But these types of things happen in organizations. Now, can we say that AJ Brown may receive a bad rap? I'll say that, but there's a difference between arrogance and passion. And sometimes they get misconstrued in sports. Like I saw someone say, well, he's not, you know, Terrell Owens. I played against Terrell Owens. And I would have loved to have Tara Orange as a teammate.

I don't care about all that outside stuff with the media. I want a guy who's a dog. That's what we've been talking about on the show the entire time. Give me some damn dogs. We need a dog catcher out there to bring some guys into the fold because I'm sick and tied and I'll say this about players and I'll say this about media in this market. I'm sick of these damn pound puppies, right? I want guys who are going to go out.

Pound puppies. Right? Because think about what we're talking about. We're talking about in critical moments. Can Bo Nix throw. the ball down the field and which one of those guys are going to come up with the reception. Don't forget the Broncos receivers were second behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and drops. So much so, Kerry Colbert was fired.

So I don't want to hear this from fans talking about, well, we don't want that guy because he doesn't fit all locker room. You know what? There's a great locker room culture here with the Denver Broncos. But like I said, we need to pep that thing up. We need to pipe up. We need to get a guy who's a damn dog. And if you said, you bring AJ Brown and this is why they're doing all.

all this stuff to bring AJ Brown, I said, sign me up for it. Do we forget, Akim Taleb when he was a member of the New England Patriots, was getting into fist fights with Steve Smith. And these dudes were going to go with each other. Not only that on social media, too. It's just like, okay. Akeep Taleb shot himself in the foot. That's your job.

True. Right? I mean, hey, Nick, I need to take a quick trip down memory lane because this all is coming full circle for me, as I used to refresh the ESPN NFL rumors. page back in high school when the teacher wasn't looking during computer class, I very distinctly remember that one Mike Shanahan did try to trade for Terrell Owens. And in fact, I believe had a meeting in person with T.O. and agent Drew Rosenhouse back in the day. So for anybody, now that that's coming up, it's, it's all coming screaming back to the forefront of my mind that

the Broncos actually did try to trade for Terrell Owens during a Super Bowl window. I mean, you know what I'm saying like and they ended up trading for javon walker that same year so it's like okay t o back in that time was the man and if you would have thrown it up into his area code think about that dude on the like talk about that because like how would he have fit in that locker room a locker room that was ready to win a championship yeah i thought i think he would have fit well into a locker room because here's the thing we're going to embrace you no matter what we don't care where you came from the only thing that matters that can and you make plays for our team.

I remember when Brandon Marshall was drafted by Denver Broncos, and it was the first day of off-season conditioning. Now, in college, they called him Baby T.O. So he came to practice, kind of dressed with that kind of idea he had on shades and everything. You know what Al Wilson told him? Take them damn shades up. You haven't done anything in this organization. And he took them off.

So to have an actual tear-or-ons in our organization, that would have taken our game to a whole different level. because think about it. You know, the Broncos at that time had about four or five different running backs that you could throw out on the field and the run game was being blocked and schemes so well that it didn't make a difference. Just think about Rod Smith and the Tara Orne's kind of killing it on the field. Oh, man.

Look, I would have loved it. And listen, me and Terry talk to this day, right? And most people don't like his attitude. I don't give a damn what you do off the field. I don't care who you're seeing, whatever, kind of controversy. All I know in Broncos country doing my time in Mike Shanahan, what are you doing once we get between those lines on Sunday? That's the only thing that we cared about. And I think Sean has a similar viewpoint on that. And it's interesting you bring up

Brandon Marshall because he's a big personality. And obviously we know how his tenure played out here with Denver and then obviously where he's flipped otherwise. But like Brandon Marshall was an impact player, Nick. I mean, that's why I love having you on this show. Like obviously you have really good knowledge about the current iteration of the Denver Roncos, but like you can actually speak to what it's like to be in a locker with those bigger type of personalities. Like someone like a Brandon Marshall, I think, would fit that mold, no? Yeah, but here's the thing. And I've never talked about this before. So during that time, if I'm not mistaken, it was Rod, it was Devon, and it was Brandon Marshall. Now, when Brandon Marshall first got here, they put Brandon's locker

right next to Rod Smith. You know why? Because they knew he, he, He was a live wire coming out of college. And they needed someone to kind of stabilize him. And I wish we would have had more time with him. But our era came to an end. And then the team was led by, you know, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumanville, Jay Cutler, right, Tony Sheffler. Those guys thought they were going to come in, move us to the side. And they were going to be the new faces.

But we saw how that worked out for them because they lacked leadership. That's what it is. It's about leadership. So if you have leadership inside the locker room, a guy like AJ Brown would definitely fit in, but he would also force every single guy in that wide receiver room to take their game to the next level. And you know what guy would be definitely happy if they added to AJ Brown number 10. Yeah. Yeah.

Hey, really quickly, I'm on this subject while we're, while we're there. Sean Payton's 2017 draft pales in comparison to the 2006 Denver Broncos drafts, by the way. I mean, we're talking about Jay Cutler. You traded for Javon Walker. You got Tony Schaeffler, Elvis Dumerville, Brandon Marshall. I believe Chris Cooper was in that draft as well. That draft class is insane. One of the greatest of all time.

And one of the most unpopular also at the time because Jay Cutler was not a popular pick. And so I think that was, that's just really interesting to take that strolled on memory lane. But speaking of draft classes, guys, I forgot something I wanted to say earlier, a PSA for anybody who's listening to be equipped and armed with some actual knowledge here, okay? Because if anybody ever says to you on Twitter that the Broncos draft class is going to cost 12 million or 15 million or 20 million in salary cap space, what I want you to do is I want you to reply to that person, non-ball noor, just so you have that bookmarked somewhere because the Broncos draft class costs just over four million in salary cap space. And that's not my opinion. That is facts.

Stone cold hard facts. The Broncos draft class on the salary cap is $4 million and change. So if anybody ever tries to tell you, well, they had to free up cap space because they need the cap space for the incoming draft class. It's going to cost $20 million against the cap or $15 million against the cap. It's $4 million against the cap. $4 million. In case anybody's still wondering, the Broncos draft class will cost $4 million against the salary cap. Four million.

In case, guys, I mean, how much does the Broncos draft class going to count against the salary cap? $4 million? I just want everybody to know. Yeah. Let's, to kind of put a bow on the A.J. Brown conversation, because I know we talked about it early in the offseason, and I think it's fair to say that there was some mixed thoughts about A.J. Brown,

and, you know, people act out of inspiration or desperation. And I'm not trying to say necessarily the Broncos are desperate, but I think the fan base is getting a little bit desperate for a bit. move. So let's just play the hypothetical game. Let's say they do trade for AJ Brown. And we're not sure what that compensation might look like. Maybe you flip a receiver back like a Troy Franklin type in the deal for that. Does trading for AJ Brown change your emotion and thought about this Broncos offseason? Cody, I'll start with you. Easel, by far. That's an impact playmaker. The biggest thing that we said coming into the

offseason, the Broncos need to get Bo Nicks a legitimate playmaker. You go out there and you get AJ Brown. I believe it. That's it. That's it. That's it. a big move right there. That's a needle mover. I think people just want more. And I understand that. I understand. Like, there are other positions you can add to, right? I don't even think people thought wide receiver was a big, like, even a top five or top six of what you need.

Mike Liz said as much. You know, Denver likes their group. I know that's a triggering thing for Broncos country to hear him like the room. But they really do believe that. Adding another guy to the mix right now, like you get a legitimate playmaker like A.J. Brown. I mean, it does change the dynamic a little bit. It changes the way the defenses are going to play you. It's a needle mover.

It makes the Broncos better, absolutely. Sir? Repeat the question one more time. Sorry. I guess does trading for AJ Brown kind of remedy the emotions that Broncos country has been feeling this off season? Like, is that if AJ Brown is the one big move and like, let's say they make a couple of fringe signings along the way. But that's like the one massive addition. Is that enough to kind of.

change the vibe around this offseason for the Broncos. It would be a complete, it would destroy any, any narratives that are out there right now. I mean, just one move. Like, it could be Najoku. It could be Goddard. It could be Joanne Jennings. Like one move like that would completely destroy the narrative that this team doesn't care. And that's the perception right now, honestly.

And perception is reality. Like a lot of people were jumping in my mentions being like, why would the Broncos care about what anyone thinks? And my rebuttal to that is, well, if an opinion is so unanimous from such a huge sect of the fan base, that it should be maybe taken into consideration. I know that I wouldn't make a good NFL general manager. I'm not going to sit here and say that I can make all the right moves. But look, as somebody who's invested in the team and as somebody who wants to see the team succeed, like even the idea that they're trying would completely destroy the narrative that,

that they're not. Like, so you make a trade for AJ Brown. All of a sudden, nobody cares about signing all these other guys to veteran minimum contracts to come be part of it. Now all of a sudden, it's like, oh, wow, the Broncos loaded up their 90-man roster with guys who know the offense. They know the defense. They know the culture.

They know the locker room. Now you've got depth going into training camp. And it just shatters it because you've brought in the one piece. Like I said, the Broncos don't need an expansion team like the Raiders do. The Raiders suck. The Raiders were terrible last year. They got a new head coach. They need a full new roster.

Like they needed to completely reload. The Broncos don't. And I get that. I understand what everybody's saying. Like, the Broncos don't need an entirely new roster. They've been resigning all their guys handed out 400 million in contracts. Yes, I get it.

But a team that's this close to winning a Super Bowl needs impact additions, not one, but multiple. And I think even just starting with AJ Brown, that is exactly the type of move. that would indicate, we believe me, George Peyton, Sean Peyton, Greg Penner, trading for A.J. Brown says, we believe this team is a freaking Super Bowl contender. That's why we're making an impact addition to the roster. Cody, Sarah, sounded like my old Alex Jones impersonation there for a minute that I used to do on radio. I love it. I like it when everyone gets fired up. It's always a good time. Oh, right. I can be fired up to it. But that's the thing is, too, is like,

you know, we have been told this week, like when we talked about Monday, day one of free agency, you know, we questioned it. Like, we questioned the team's decision and we got called negative and toxic because we questioned it or we're critical of it. And if we say something positive, we're, you guys are being paid by the team. Like, tell you this, man, I'm still waiting for my first paycheck if that's the case. Like, that's the number one thing. And, you know, there's this myth out there that us in the media, we can't say anything

bad or else we're going to get our credentials broke. That's not the case. Now, the one thing I'd say where a team takes issue, if you're saying blatantly like false and like things are inflammatory that aren't true right they care a lot about that but they can't they don't do that they never threaten your access with like you got to say nice things about us like to tell you i see a lot of people that say a lot of inflammatory things about the team i see them around all the time so have yet to get paid and have yet to be told what to say so love it love it all right let's hit our final commercial break when we come back

are there any other free agents that are still available that could really move the needle for the Denver Broncos and just some closing thoughts on what has been an extremely bizarre week for the orange and blue. All that more when we come back right here on your lockdown Broncos squad show. All right, well come on back into the program. Final segment here of the program, Anilo Piro, Cuddywark, Sere, Bedinger, and Nick Ferguson. Hope everyone is doing well out there in Broncos country. Do us a favor. Hit that like button, smash that subscribe button, get those comments going as well. Really helps us out here on the show. and the channel.

Good conversation about A.J. Brown, good conversation, just about what has been a very strange week for the Denver Broncos. But let's try to be, I guess a little bit more. I don't want to say optimistic. But like you mentioned it earlier in the show. Like they have to sign someone. Like they're not going to go all offseason. It's just signing nobody.

And I'm just curious as to who those guys may be. I mean, I mentioned it earlier. Like the three guys that come to mind that are quote on. quote big names are Goddard and Joku, Debo, Samuel. I guess you could throw Cam Jordan into that mix as well if they want to try to replace JFM. That could be an interesting one too. But I don't know if they're going to go tight end because you've essentially brought back the entire tight end room. Like you've got Evan Ingram. You bring back Adam Trout and you bring

back Lucas Crowl. Like you're going to really add another tight end. So I think if a move comes, it's going to be a receiver linebacker or running back. Well, I mean, I can still see them adding a tight end because think about it this way. like Nate Adkins deal is a one-year deal. Lucas Crowell's deal is a one-year deal. Adam Troutman's three-year deal essentially could be two, right, if necessary. Evan Ingram's on the last year of his contract. They can still do that.

That doesn't mean that Nate Adkins and Lucas Cole are going to be on the active roster. And when the reality is maybe the vision for a couple of these guys that they have brought back is to be practice squad guys once again, be depth for them, so to speak. Dallas Goddor, I mean, they think they push a potential release. I think it was like today they pushed it so they could work on a new contract with him from some of the reports. From the Eagles? Yeah, from something that was coming out of Philadelphia from a couple of their reporters. So not necessarily, he might not necessarily be available.

And if Denver has to trade for him, I wouldn't want that. I don't want Denver to trade for Dallas Goddard. I love Dallas Goddard. I saw some people, especially people that work for my company, uh, falling for a fake David Nizoku visit rumor. Wait, people work for your company? Well, you know, some people do work. No, I just play. I'm just playing.

But I saw some of people in my thing. I was like, you know, I was like, they really talked about this. And they, like, they did a segment. And I was like, like, guys, this wasn't true. Like, he's not visiting Denver. Like, like, oh, I. You know, it's crazy. But they could still add a tight end.

And I want them to add. Like, Sarah and I have talked countless on our shows. I would love for them, like, free agency, add someone to free agency and draft somebody. Like, this is a good tight end draft in terms of depth options. You got some good starter options for you. you have some really good depth options. It could be starters for you sooner rather than later. That's at least the hope.

I still think they add to this room because I don't think you could bank on Caleb Loner magically just picking up football after a whole year and saying he's going to be this game changer. He's going to have to prove a lot. He's going to be a better blocker. He wasn't a great blocker in the preseason. He really struggled last season, which is to be expected because the dude only played what?

54 snaps in college. So it's crazy. crazy some of things we have to bank on. Yeah. It's just so strange, man. I just did not think we'd be sitting here on Friday as the Broncos is the only team to not have signed a free agent. And like even a guy that just signed, I want to say yesterday or Wednesday,

like I would have like Rashad White in the backfield. Like Joe Mixon is not going to happen. I know he's still available. I've heard some stuff about Joe Mixing behind the scenes. That is, uh. And his injury is pretty bad too that he's been dealing with. Yeah, it is, it is not good. So I mean, Sarah,

is there anyone that you have your eye on? Like, is there any, name out there that you can see the Broncos signing at this point when they're going to sign somewhat eventually. Yeah, I mean, might as well sign Joanne Jennings. Nobody else has up to this point. The price got to be going down, right? I mean, I wouldn't mind it for a two to three year deal at this stage of free agency.

I mean, you're not riding the swells. You're riding in the kiddie pool waves, but I mean, there's still some waves to be had out there. So get the surfboard back out, boys, and get back to the beach because you got to go do something. And so, yeah, I think that would upgrade the entire room, right? I think that would upgrade because right now there's nobody out there at running back that you would say like, oh, yeah, that guy really moves the needle for us. And it sounds to me like from what Mike Kliss is saying that that's going to be in the draft. And the same might be true of tight end. And I don't even know who's out there at linebacker that the Broncos would look at and say, oh, yeah, this guy's got future starter potential.

Like, I just don't know. I don't know who's even out there. And maybe that's what people are saying, like, oh, this isn't a. great free agency class. And so I get that aspect of it as well. But yeah, it does feel like the pickings are slim. And it feels like the Broncos are in kind of a tough spot right now where they have to make a move to save face.

But it's like the catch 22 of, yeah, we're going to make a move. But when they do, is it going to be another Trent Sherfield, another Josh Reynolds, another one of these pointless moves that's like, hey, we're spending some money to show you that we're spending money and that this guy's going to get cut in the middle. of the season. Like, I just, I don't know. I don't want the team to do that. Nick, your boy, Debo Samuel, still an option. I like the John Juan Jennings name as well. I mean, what's kind of your vibe check here? Well, listen, I'm still in favor of a guy like Debo Samu's based on what he can bring to the table. And obviously, you know, no player is what

they were five or two years ago. But when you talk about the things that Sean wants to do and those gadget and gadget types of plays, he would be a resourceful guy. I mean, and the fact that he is versatile, you can put him in a slot where you free him up, you can match him up with a linebacker or nickelback, but also you can hand a ball off to him. But it always goes back to what the coach wants to do and how he sees this offense being. And the one thing that I can say defensively, this offense hasn't had any explosion over the past two years.

And anyone can choose to argue with me, I'll say sit down and watch film. This is not a very explosive. offensive offense. If it's not for number 10, being able to extend plays with his legs, this offense would be in trouble. Let's just kind of keep it a buck. But I mean, Juan Jennings could he end up on the Broncos roster? Probably because guess what? He's a free agent. You don't have to give up draft capital for him. Like Sarah said, the more you sit out there and wait, the more your value goes down. And it gets to a point where you want to continue to play football. You can be angry, right? You can be upset and say, well,

I thought I was going to be one of those day one guys open and free agency. Now you're not. So what do you want to do? You want to take this deal we're going to give you and then possibly play well for two years and then hit the market again? Fine. But what we've seen from the NFL over the past couple of years, they now are okay with giving a guy a one-year deal, kind of like a proof-a-deal. So if you're Juan Jenning, you take the proven deal, you play with Bow. This team has a great defense.

That means you're going to get a lot of targets. then if you're Sean Payton, hey, you didn't give up a lot of draft capital for AJ Brown, even though I would like to see an AJ Brown. But you take the consolation prize. Is that not what J.K. Dobbins has been for the past two years? A consolation prize. You still get paid. You have a year to prove yourself.

So to me, that's the kind of direction I would go. I don't know what direction they're going to go, man. I'm kind of like with Cody where I'm like, I'll just kind of believe it when I see it. I'm going to go in a direction. I mean, what direction that is remains to be. seen at this point. And look, I get it. Like, this is a thing, too. And I'm trying to be so reasonable here. I feel like today's world, you're the one side or the other, right? Like, you can't be reasonable. You had to be either crazy or you have to be over the top. My whole thought

on this, and I try to tell fans, fans have every right to feel frustrated about this. 100%. I don't think anyone's going to ever tell them they can't. I think we're all sitting here. It's like, hey, what's going on? That doesn't mean that, you know, the sky is falling. I think the theory right now, perception is that the sky is falling, but I'm curious to see what they do. If they don't do nothing between now and the draft, I don't know what I'll do. I'll have to come with some sort of wager. I'll have to like do a whole entire show and like a tank cop or something. But my.

Well, I can't even believe I'm going to ask this question. Uh-oh. Buckle up folks. We do the shows on Tuesdays and Fridays typically. By the time we get to next Tuesday, will the Broncos have signed a free agent that was not on the team this previous seat?

Yes, I bet you're welcome. Well, I mean, because I think they will too. I mean, if they don't like that's in mind-blowingly insane. They got to sign someone over the weekend, right? Sarah, like they have to at some point. Yeah, it's like you said. I mean, earlier you were talking about Broncos country, you know, take a step back this weekend, go enjoy your life. And that's exactly when they're going to make a move is when you're trying to enjoy your life. And then you're like, wait a second, the Broncos are brilliant.

They're reeling me right back in this whole. And yeah, I can see it being one of those moves that's like super underwhelming. Like people are talking about another offensive lineman. And I'm like, have they even cut Matt Pert yet? Because to me, they've got their top eight offensive linemen set. So if they go and sign an offensive lineman and that's the move that we get to talk about, I'm thinking to myself like this is worse than not signing anybody. Like don't give me the bull crap signings.

Give me some real stuff. give me something that's going to actually improve the team, somebody who you expect to actually play a role, to actually improve the roster, to, you know, all these sorts of things. Like, I get it.

You've brought back everybody. All these players are going to get to experience the, the new training facility. They're going to get to experience the new, you know, place that they get to go to work every single day. I could see that. Honestly, guys, I could see that being like a reward for some of these players.

Like, all right, you guys have helped us get back to, the AFC championship, and we'll bring you back and let you experience the new facility here. I just, I don't know. I hope it's not like another one of these Trent Sherfield types of moves. That's like just a guy who's going to be around and get cut during the season. I'm sorry for free to guys. It's my fault because every time I go somewhere, something happens.

If I stay put, nothing happens. My wife and I went out to get coffee last Sunday, then something happened. I was like, babe, we got to go back home. I got to write this story. I do a bonus show. And then I stayed home for free agency all week long, didn't move. Nothing's happened. So I told me.

Go to Breckenridge, bro. Get out of town this weekend. I can't do that. Hey, let me ask you guys this question. You may feel as though it's relevant or not. I know the idea the Broncos are just bringing back all the familiar faces. The addition of outside guys, that would only take the Broncos expectations up to a whole different level. And I'm not saying they're doing this.

purposely. But when you start adding, just like the other 31 teams, when you start adding other players who are coming off other expiring deals, that only kind of fires up your base for sure. But it also elevates the level of

expectations. But by not going out and getting any some of these outside guys, we're talking about Juan Jennings, we're talking about Breeze Hall, we're talking about A.J. Brown. It kind of tempers expectations, right? And maybe Maybe I don't know that I'm not, hopefully this is not the case, but it doesn't raise it to a point where all the fans are not just getting excited about pre-agency, but they're getting excited about the season.

They're like, oh, yeah, we're in there for sure. We're in our conference zone. We're in our pocket. But by resigning the same guys, those expectations don't actually go up, guys, not in my opinion. Yeah. I'm with you 100%. So all of us, like, worked up and all the fan base work, watch them make some sort of like crazy blockbuss. And we're like, all right, you're going to see that.

Dexter's laboratory, which is a stunt on these, you know. You can't even say that. We can't see that happen here. We're like, you know what? Alzardine. That's the hope, right? I mean, that's where we're at. That is the hope.

Is this an example of pinking in the brain? You know, maybe something explosive happens during the weekend. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Well, hopefully we have something positive to talk about when we get back here on the lockdown Bronco squad show next Tuesday. I mean, for now, though,

like I said, go outside, touch some grass, breathe some air. It's going to be gorgeous this weekend in Denver. Distract yourself from what has been an absolutely perplexing week for the Denver Broncos and their fan base. But good stuff, as always, gentlemen, always a good time chopping it up with you guys. Like I said, we'll be back on Tuesday. I don't really want to have to do this whole show for a second time. Give me something to talk about.

Give me something to talk about. if they don't give us something to talk about, there's stuff that we can literally, we can start like, as Dare said in his bonus episode yesterday, he's like, the Denver Broncos are clearly focused on the NFL draft, so will we.

He's got an emergency mock draft coming out. I just want to get excited. This was supposed to be a week that we got excited about this team. And what I said at the beginning of the show, like there's no way shape or form that Broncos are even as good as they were when the season ended as they are right now. Because it's basically the same team minus J.F.M. and PJ Lock.

Two dogs that made. a difference on this team last year. So we shall see, like I said, we'll have good content for you guys next Tuesday, regardless of what happens. But for Cody Rourke, Sarah Bedinger, Nick Ferguson, I am anilo Piero, another episode of the Lockdown Broncos Squad Show in the books. Have a good weekend, y'all. Talk to you guys next week. Peace.