Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Linebacker COMPETITION Opens Up | Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad To Compete

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos are bringing back inside linebacker Justin Sternott, who is anticipated to compete with Alex Singleton for a starting job. How does this move the needle for the Denver Broncos defense? We'll tell you about that much more here on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. You are locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Broncos country, what's happening? You know what time it is. It's time for another episode of Lockdown Broncos. daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockedon Podcast Network where you know it is your team

Starting point is 00:00:39 every day for all your Broncos news, content coverage analysis and more. This is the place to be. Thank you so much all the everydayers out there on Broncos country. Thank you so much for tuning in making us your first listen however you choose to do so. And if you're not yet in every day or make sure you become on by hitting that subscriber or that follow button so you never miss out on a brand new episode of the show every single day all year long, including throughout the entire off season because for the true fan there is never in offseason. I'm Cody Roark. Broncos reporter from Mile High Sports, joined as always by Sarah Bedinger, site expert over there, predominantly orange.com and as NFL free agency continues on, here's what you can expect on today's

Starting point is 00:01:18 episode of the show. With a fire cell apparently going on with the San Francisco 49ers, should the Broncos call them up and inquire maybe about Christian McCaffrey? We'll debate and discuss whether or not would be a move for the Broncos to maybe entertain here. We're going to talk about new edition, Trent Sherfield, what he's going to bring to the Broncos on the special team side of the ball and what type of underrated impact he might be able to have on offense at wide receiver. We're going to kick things off here with the news of the day. The Broncos bringing back Justin Sternad on a one-year deal worth $2.7 million guaranteed. And he's going to come in and he's going to compete for a starting job according to what the Broncos told him. So, Sarah,

Starting point is 00:01:56 let's open it up here because the Broncos, more recently, they go out and they get Dre Green Lawn. They give him a three-year deal. Pretty good. money right there that almost ensures he's going to be a starter here. But then they bring back Justin Sternod here. We know Alex Singleton's coming off the ACL, but Sternaud told a good friend, Mike Cliss of the Broncos told him he's going to come in and he's going to compete for a starting job and kind of opens the door here for some inside linebacker

Starting point is 00:02:20 competition and more importantly, probably indicating that Alex Singleton's job is not secure just yet. Which kind of makes me wonder if we need to be on watch here or if that's going to be something that maybe, you know, back or forwards in training camp closer to that point in time, roster cuts, things like that, because obviously Justin Sernad had a bit of a breakout year in 2024, at least statistically, Cody, I mean, 73 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, four quarterback hits, three passes, defense, and made a number of big plays. I think when you talk about big splash plays at the linebacker position last year,

Starting point is 00:02:58 Justin Sternad was that guy for the Broncos. I know Cody Barton had a couple of big returns for touchdown or whatever like that, but Justin Sternad was the guy that I thought was the best at attacking the line of scrimmage. He was the guy that I thought was the best at, you know, being aggressive and filling those gaps, but obviously that became an issue as the season went along. And I think the Broncos even benched Sternad at one point after putting him into the lineup when they were kind of reshuffling things post-Alex Singleton injury. I'm interested to see exactly what it looks like with this competition in training camp.

Starting point is 00:03:33 Is it going to be a situation to where Sternad is actually rotating in with the ones or is it going to be a, you know, hey, we know what you can do. We're going to see how Singleton's health is. And if it's not good, like it's going to be Sternad. Is the competition a three-way competition with Drew Sanders as well? Because we know Drey Greenlaw is going to be in the starting lineup for Denver. At the very least, we know that Sternod. bring special teams ability over 1,200 special teams snaps in four seasons for the Broncos, Cody.

Starting point is 00:04:04 So it feels like this move kind of made sense, especially at the price tag of just $2.7 million. Yeah, and look, his sixth season in the NFL and look, I'm going to be the firm. I might be the only one on this board. And there are some things I know that a lot of people don't have knowledge on behind the scenes here, but I felt like Justin Sternard was not as bad as like Twitter will tell you he is. Like there's a bunch of people like, oh, I don't want Sternaud back on the team. But Sternod played really well for a large portion of the season at inside linebacker. And I think where people are getting things convoluted a little bit here, you know,

Starting point is 00:04:36 you're looking at the game against the Los Angeles Chargers, where once again, I want to remind folks, you know, people are going to see a player near where a ball is caught. Like, oh my gosh, he got burnt. But the reality of the situation is like, you got to know what you're looking at from the scheme. Okay. So case in point, the Broncos, and you and I've talked about this, Sarah, the Broncos has deployed a lot of inside linebacker blitzes quite a big. there were more communication issues at inside linebacker, in my opinion, where Cody Barton was

Starting point is 00:05:04 and behind where Brandon Jones was between those two guys, more so than there was Justin Sternad. So there was one play against the Chargers where J.quam Macmillan is blitzing from the nickel, right? So when you're blitzing, you have to replace some coverage. Well, you have a too high shell and your two safeties are playing over the top here. So Justin Sternod has to read run first, but because Jayquam Macmillan is blitzing, you know, he reads past. Now, he's got to be at the inside linebacker spot, he's got to get out to the crow to flat there. And, you know, Justin Herbert would get the ball out of his hands quickly.

Starting point is 00:05:34 That's not necessarily, oh, my gosh, Justin Sternard, you know, couldn't make a play. It's, hey, the Broncos defense didn't put him or anybody else in a great position for that matter here. The Broncos, I can tell you, are very high on Sternaud. They love what he brings to the table from what you mentioned is a core four special teams ace in which he didn't get to play special teams last year because he had to step in and start. So you were to rely on younger guys like, At one point of the season, it was Christian Welch. Then, you know, Lavelle Bailey started getting some special team snaps. Drew Sanders got special team snaps when he came back from his injury.

Starting point is 00:06:05 Now you bring him back on a one-year deal. He's proven he can be a valuable backup for you. He's also proven he can start for you if need be, if there's an injury. But he's a key special teams guy that Darren Rizzy obviously will love and value on that side of the ball here. So for me, I look at it as a three-way competition. I think unless Alex Singleton is surprisingly, which at this point, point. If he got released now and that freed up cap space for the Broncos, I would be surprised because I imagine that type of move would have came a little bit earlier as they were getting ready

Starting point is 00:06:36 for free agency. So I'm not expecting that to happen. Things can change obviously as we're sitting here recording this episode. But I think it's going to be Justin Sternod coming in to compete with Drew Sanders and with Alex Singleton for that starting job at middle linebacker, whereas Drake Greenlaw is going to be that guy who can spy your quarterback, spy running back out of the backfield, he's going to be your coverage guy that we saw him do, obviously over there at San Francisco. That to me is exciting because when you blitz, Sternod, now or Alex Singleton, whoever the inside linebacker is going to be, you have a guy who is going to sit back there and can cover the middle of the field. That to me is the most exciting part about the addition to Dre Greenlaw and maybe

Starting point is 00:07:13 how this lineback room is now shaping out here for the Broncos defensively. And what could be really interesting, too, is the fact that Sternad hasn't started consecutive years since he was back at Wake Forest. maybe there's something to that of getting a little bit of continuity there. Obviously, the experience that he got this past season is invaluable for the Broncos. And for him to take up less than 1% of the salary cap at 2.7 million, I mean, it's a really great value. And I want to keep on bringing those kinds of numbers up because I think it's important to note that like a player of Sternod's caliber who brings so much to the table on

Starting point is 00:07:49 special teams and potentially a starter on defense taking up less than 1% of your salary cap, it's a pretty awesome deal for the Denver Broncos and just good business in general because remember it would have been so easy for George Payton to come in and clean house and get rid of all the guys who are drafted by John Elway and or drafted to different coaching schemes and things like that. But the pro scouting department is not playing any favorites, which I think is really important. You know, I think for a guy like Sternaud to be one of the only holdovers from the John Elway era, there's not many left in Denver at this point. it speaks to his work ethic. It speaks to his fit in the locker room. It speaks to the fact that we know Darren Rizzi is also part of the personnel evaluation at this point.

Starting point is 00:08:34 So if Rizzi is watching Sternod play special teams and he's like, I want that guy back, I mean, that's that should speak volumes to the members of Broncos country, like you said, Cody, who are saying, I don't really want Sternad back. I mean, folks, sometimes the grass ain't greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes the grass is greener where you water it, right? I mean, there's a time to turn the page and there's a time to move on from guys. But somebody like Sternad is when you're assembling a 53-man roster, somebody like that is a guy that you can really rely on to do a lot of different things for you

Starting point is 00:09:08 and raise the floor. Once again, I'm going to say it every episode probably this off season, raise the floor of an important position defensively. There's a reason he's made it through multiple coaching staffs, multiple defensive coordinators at this point. And it's because of his ability. to be available, but also to play and have an impact and not just on defense when you need him to. And look, I think he had several big plays on defense. You know, he's had some sacks.

Starting point is 00:09:31 Obviously, you mentioned three sacks he had, but there were some times throughout some, you know, a handful of games last year where it's a key rundown for, you know, the Broncos defense to get off the field. And he comes up with the big stuff, you know, or a TFL there. Like, that is the type of stuff that you need. And look, would you rather, Sarah, the Broncos go and spend, you know, you got 13 million a year, essentially, I think for Drake Greenlaw or 11.6. So would you like them to go out another linebacker to go spend maybe 14, 15 million? No. Like if you've got guys that you know that can play and you're already paying someone a pretty good amount of money,

Starting point is 00:10:00 it's like, hey, let's continue to get the best players possible because it is almost impossible to build out an 11-man defense where every player on your defense is highly paid at what they do. That is hard. And so that's where you have to come up with. As you mentioned, we're going to use a Walmart pun here. Great value signings. Justin Sternard, in my opinion, is that here. Sarah in Broncos, country.

Starting point is 00:10:20 We want to hear from you on today's episode of the show. Your thoughts on Sternad returning. And if there was a competition between he, Alex Singleton, and Drew Sanders, how do you think that one will go? But the Broncos, they weren't done boosting the special team side of the ball. They went out and they added a veteran special team's ace and someone who might be able to have an under-the-radar impact at wide receiver. We'll talk about what Trent Shurfield brings to the table for the Broncos here on today's episode of the show. Today's episode of Lockdown Broncos is brought to you by friends over there at Monarch.

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Starting point is 00:12:08 Actually, a guy who's been a little bit of a journeyman in his NFL career, Trent Scherfield, who is going to come in as a wide receiver special teams ace for this Denver Broncos team. He'll be replacing a guy we talked about on yesterday's episode of the show. Tramon Smith. But what does he bring to the table that Tramon Smith does not or did not for the Denver Broncos? We're going to talk about that on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos. And shout out to all of you who make Lockdown Broncos, your first listen of the day every single day. If you're not already an everyday listener of the show, take a couple seconds, hit that subscribe button wherever you listen to podcast as well as on YouTube so you don't miss a single episode of the show. Cody, let's talk about the Trent Sherfield signing for the Denver Broncos, a reported deal of two years. million with the potential to go up to 8 million. I find this move to be interesting. I think a lot of Broncos country was upset,

Starting point is 00:13:01 if not just borderline toxic when the signing was reported because obviously this is not the level of wide receiver move that everybody's hoping for at this point. But this is not a move where Mike Cliss, remember he reported that the Broncos are going to assign a wide receiver of note. Cliss was adamant after the signing of Trent Shelfield, that this is not the wide receiver of note signing that the team is potentially going to make. Yeah, he mentioned something.

Starting point is 00:13:29 I think the comparison was, you know, the Shelfield signing is more about Tremont Smith's replacement than it is like a Josh Reynolds signing from last year. And I think there's a lot of validity to that, right? Because think about this in terms of what Denver's looking at. Okay, you lose Tremont Smith, who is a core four special teams ace for you, right? Core four meaning, hey, you play Gunner.

Starting point is 00:13:50 on kickoff, you play gunner on punt, you're also a jammer, and you have an important role and, you know, special teams on extra point, field go, whatever it may be, you have a key role. And obviously in the return game, Shremont Smith was the backup returner. Sherfield, I do not believe, Sarah is anticipated to be a return option here for the Broncos, though in training camp, he might be able to catch a few returns because you're going to have all your skill guys back there during the time where the fans are sitting and cooking on the, on the hill there, where you're just going to catch and fill it. He's got one kick return in his entire NFL career that came back in 2019 against the Arizona

Starting point is 00:14:23 Cardinals. So where can he have the biggest impact here? Well, you mentioned it. I think as a gunner on punt team, I think as a potential jammer, kickoff, these are where he can have probably the biggest impact. There was a game last year where he was a member of the Minnesota Vikings where they were playing the Tennessee Titans. And you can go through and look and find different clips.

Starting point is 00:14:42 I'll do a film breakdown of Sherfield on Mile High Sports where Sherfield is, as a gunner, runs downfield against the Tennessee Titans makes a tremendous play where he secures the ball in the one yard line. That's something that Charman Smith did a lot of last season. So this move right here for Denver, the biggest priority for it is special teams. I think when you look at the salary, special teams. Now, what does it mean potentially a wide receiver? This isn't, as you mentioned, the wide receiver of note. This isn't a big splash.

Starting point is 00:15:11 And this is more so like, I think a worst case scenario, hey, you've got a guy who I think can be under the radar for you as a potential receiver, but he's not going to be your primary guy. I think when you look at his overall body of work, his most productive season that he had in terms of receiving, I think came a couple of years ago. But primarily last year as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he hauled in eight passes on nine targets for 83 yards and one touchdown in just 17 games last season, right?

Starting point is 00:15:39 So that's not saying, hey, you are a high volume, high target guy. This is a guy that might get some playing time if you have an injury at the position, but primarily it's a depth option for you, mainly special teams, which you need guys just like that to take up a roster spot. And I sure field, I think when you look at his body of work on special teams, he's a hard worker.

Starting point is 00:16:00 He's finally embracing it. I saw an interview he did a couple of years ago where he talked about he would love to showcase what he could do at wide receiver, but teams view him as a special team's ace. And he said, so I've embraced that. And I work hard, has put my head down and grind.

Starting point is 00:16:14 He is a workaholic. when it comes to special teams. And once again, you're getting Darren Rizzi, the new special teams coordinator, a guy who has an opportunity to make impact plays for you, maybe flip field position for you, down at inside the five yard line or at the one yard line like he has shown, and a guy who can tackle, which is very important.

Starting point is 00:16:33 Yeah, and he's somebody who, like you mentioned, he likes doing the dirty work on special teams, and he doesn't mind, you know, not getting recognized for that. I mean, he's paid, he's compensated quite well for that. A couple of years ago, he did play over 600, snaps offensively for Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins after coming over from the 49ers. Remember I mentioned that little nugget there. What I think this move represents Cody is a replacement of Tremont Smith, but also potentially

Starting point is 00:17:02 a replacement of Lil Jordan Humphrey because Lil Jordan Humphrey was that guy who did kind of the dirty work for the Broncos at receiver, a little bit of blocking. Trent Sherfield has some clips out there of him blocking at the wide receiver position, even cracking down on an edge player in a clip that I saw from just last season with Minnesota. So he's being trusted with the more physical aspect of the position and then being efficient, I guess, eight of nine targets that he caught for 80 some yards and a touchdown. So when needed, he could maybe contribute offensively, which is the big differentiator between he and somebody like Tremont Smith, who he ain't contributing to the defense.

Starting point is 00:17:41 He was special teams only. So this is a guy who can actually play for your offense. And if you look at the Broncos depth chart now at wide receiver, you've got Cortland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Devon Velae, and Trent Sherfield. I would venture to guess, Cody, that those five guys are probably locks to be on the roster, which means that there could be room for, you know, wiggle room for one more guy to sneak his way onto the team. And I think that's an interesting thing as well is because last year, one of the 53 man spots at Corner was being taken. up this year it's wide receiver little jordan humphrey he was not a special teams guy so that is

Starting point is 00:18:20 another factor here to where you might be getting two guys replaced in one player on the roster and to do things that neither of those guys could do yeah we'll see how how it all pans out here i mean like i said i think broncos country's reaction was what this is the wide receiver that they're signed like this they didn't sign this guy for bone nicks and look well obviously Bow Nix will have to develop some chemistry with him, you know, throughout training camp because he's going to be on the roster. He's going to be at the position. I imagine we'll probably see Sherfield play a lot in the preseason with some of the second

Starting point is 00:18:52 team, third team offenses, but primarily their goal and their vision for him is on special teams and a guy who can come in and maybe have an impact solid blocker embraces it as well. And I think gives you a little more upside overall because as you mentioned with those two players in Tremont Smith, who obviously had a huge impact in Little Jordan Humphrey, essentially you're bringing in one guy to. replace maybe the anticipatory role of two of those players, which gives you, I think, flexibility on how you manage your roster.

Starting point is 00:19:18 And maybe you have an additional player at another position because it affords the opportunity to secure a roster spot here for a guy like Sherfield. So Broncos country, don't hang your head. Wide receiver moves. There's still an opportunity for the Broncos to make a move here at wide receiver in NFL free agency as all things go on. And obviously, if you know that happens, you're going to get an episode here on Lockdown Broncos,

Starting point is 00:19:39 whether it's a new episode or a breaking. news one, we expect the Broncos to still add a wide receiver of note here this offseason. Let us know your thoughts on the addition to Trent Sherfield. If you've got a chance to check out his tape and some of the plays he's made on special teams, what was your initial takeaway here? But we're not done, Broncos country. We got one final topic coming up on today's episode of the show with a fire cell that's going on in San Francisco with the 49ers.

Starting point is 00:20:04 Should the Debra Broncos pick up the phone and inquire about Colorado's own Christian McCaffrey, Sarah Bedinger, myself, we're going to discuss this here on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos. Today's episode of Lockdown Broncos is brought the of our friends over there at Fandu. And as you all know, Fandu is America's number one sports book. And the month of March is a good one. Not only is March my birthday, NFL free agency, but it is also time for March Madness, one of the biggest events in the sports world all year long. And March Madness is finally here.

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Starting point is 00:21:50 I don't know your thoughts on it, but I know I probably am going to feel a little different about this than you. So I'm going to ask you the question since you posed it here. Should the Broncos look into a trade for Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers? I'm going to say yes, look into the trade for Christian McCaffrey. Depending on the price, obviously, if I'm the Denver, Broncos. I'm not giving up any of my picks in rounds one, two, or three for anybody that's still available. But I think day three picks, you can negotiate pick swaps, negotiate. Christian McCaffrey,

Starting point is 00:22:21 obviously is one of the premier running backs in the NFL when healthy. Now, the when healthy tag with him is a little bit more of a pronounced thing because he has had so many injuries throughout the course of his career, including one last year where I mean, he was going to like Germany for treatment, things like that. So if the 49ers are having a fire sale, Cody, I'd be definitely calling about this if I'm the Denver Broncos. And my tinfoil hat theory is this. And this has maybe no bearing on anything whatsoever. But I know for a fact that grandparents need to be around their grandkids, they love it more than parents love being around their kids. And I know for a fact that Christian McCaffrey is expecting a child this year. And also that his parents live in

Starting point is 00:23:07 Colorado. And so, you know, Christian McCaffrey, if it was my mom, his mom would be calling him up and being like, hey, I don't know what you got to do. I need to be around this baby. And yeah, she could fly to California, things like that. But you know what? Get the guy back to his home state of Colorado. Let him be that legacy player that we've always dreamed about. I think this would be a little more fan service than anything, Cody. But I don't hate the idea of throwing a dart at Christian McCaffrey, given what he's proven in the past. I mean, I understand that. I don't think it would be a good move for Denver just because you really don't know where he's at on the medical side.

Starting point is 00:23:44 And look, I would say maybe the appeal to Christian McCaffrey, if healthy, as you mentioned, very explosive, not only as a runner, but a pass catch out of the backfield. And to be fair, he does meet the requirement and the criteria for what Sean Peyton would designate as a Joker. But at the same time with what we've seen from the running back position because of his size. And look, for him to be able to play as long as he has in the NFL, that has been a huge accomplishment because really in college, a lot of people are saying, well, he's never going to make it, you know, in the NFL because he's going to take too many hits. I think he's proven that he can actually take some of those hits and he could be a game changer. It's really the soft tissue injury. So if there was a reason, if there was some way that Broncos could make those issues go with, what Bo Lowry's been able to do, I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to it. I just don't see that being what the Broncos want to do.

Starting point is 00:24:33 And in your opinion, for a guy like McCaffrey, Sarah, what do you think his asking price would be in terms of via trade? What would the 49ers be looking to get? I mean, obviously, the Broncos and the Niners, they've done business in the past before here. Obviously, they sent Randy Gregory to San Francisco when he was a member of the Denver Broncos. And so the relationship is there. You're plucking Talo, Tala Noah Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw away from it. You have the 49ers connection there with those two guys you bring in free agency. Obviously, Ed McAfrey's on social media posting his excitement about some of these 49ers.

Starting point is 00:25:03 that are coming to Denver and you can't help but wonder, okay, hey, has he said like, hey, Christian, you know, you want to come here as well? I see the appeal for it. Is it going to move the needle for the Broncos, though? I'm not sure it does. Then again, I can be wrong. I'm curious for your rebuttal on it. Yeah, I think as far as bringing in a veteran running back, I, you know me, Cody,

Starting point is 00:25:22 all offseason I've been saying, kind of opposed to the idea of veteran running backs, given this rookie clash that's incoming. I think a player like Christian McCaffrey would, would cause me to, change my tune just a little bit, even if it's just on paper. And then you say he's the, he's one of the very few guys that I would say, I'd rather have him and a rookie than just drafting two guys. I'd rather take that risk on him. Like you mentioned, he's kind of the definition of that joker role for the offense. And I think even if you would get 10 games out of it next year and maybe the playoffs, you know what I'm saying? Like that's a risk that's maybe worth taking. So what's

Starting point is 00:26:00 the asking price. I don't know that because I mean, how much money are you taking on from the 49ers? Are they just trying to get him to a new situation? Do they want to trade him in the first place? Like, remember, the 49ers traded what, second, third, fourth round picks to get Christian McCaffrey. And it led them far. But they've been also, they re-signed, I think, Jordan Mason this offseason. Cody, there's rumors. Well, they obviously, they have the kid from Louisville, Garando, who's on the roster. Sounds like they might be trying to bring in Rahim Mostert back to the fold. So there is a chance that he gets traded. And if that's the case, and why not, you know, take a shot on this if you're Denver. But I'm kind of more on the lines right now. What's more pressing or what's more

Starting point is 00:26:45 immediately available is the guy Kyle Eusecheck, the perennial all pro fullback, Cody. Mike Burton is a free agent. And obviously, Burton is a different type of guy. He plays a of special teams. Use check doesn't play a lot of special teams anymore. What are your thoughts on use check coming to Denver? Do you think he's a type of player that they would identify? I mean, he would take up a 53 man spot. He would be a game day active, but he wouldn't necessarily play special teams. What's your take on that guy? I mean, I like use check a lot. And look, I think Broncos' players' wives would really love the addition of him because of the fact that, you know, his wife makes a lot of really awesome

Starting point is 00:27:24 NFL style clothing. I don't see that. that happening just because like what you mentioned like I think he could obviously impact the Broncos you could hand on the ball from time to time you can also use him as a receiver from time to time he's been very capable as a former pro bowl and all pro in that category here but from what you mentioned if he's not going to play special teams I don't see that being the benefit whereas you have a guy like Nate Atkins who I think will probably play a little bit more that hybrid hback role for Denver and Nate Atkins plays special teams he embraces it as a core four guy and you know can impact you he can have a little bit of an under the radar impact you he can have a little bit of an under

Starting point is 00:27:57 the radar impact in the passing. But he's going to be a blocker for you. He might even be at the tight end position. One of Denver's better, I would say inline pass blockers there alongside Adam Troutman. I know tight end's a big area of focus here for the Broncos and maybe where they need to go or what they're looking to get. I don't know if use check would come in and give them what they need if he is not able to play or does not at this point of his career play special teams as nice as the name

Starting point is 00:28:23 value would be. I don't see that happening. But I'd also maybe even. ask you this question is what kind of circling back to Christian McCaffrey. Okay, if LeBroncos were to have interest in him, you already have Blake Watson, you have Adrick Estimate, Jelulululiflund on this roster, Tyler Badegh, does that eliminate you in your opinion from going out there, maybe in the NFL draft and getting, you know, one of these guys and this, what we believe is to be a deep class here in the first three rounds

Starting point is 00:28:48 of the draft? I think it would more so affect the guys that are already on the team, like McLaughlin and Bade and potentially even Watson as. well. I don't know that Estimay's situation is worth monitoring just yet, but I mean, I think he needs to have a big training camp at preseason as well as a fifth round pick last year. So there's, I do believe that the Broncos have to, they can't, they can't hold too much sentimental value towards certain guys. The vision has to be clear for the player and saying, hey, we really believe that, you know, Jalil can be a, you know, potentially a thousand yard from

Starting point is 00:29:25 scrimmage type of player in order to pass on other guys that become available, right? That's that has to be the conviction of the front office to pass on on really good players that become available. Otherwise, you're just, you're getting stuck in this mud of Sean Payton has his guys. And, and well, Jalil shows up to the facility before everybody else. And while that is an admirable trait, and I think it's essential for guys who want to make it in the NFL, given his kind of a story, there comes a point, I think, to where you, might have to upgrade the talent level of the team and take some risks.

Starting point is 00:30:00 And so the conviction would have to be such that, hey, we believe he can truly be a thousand yard from scrimmage guy. And so we're not going to go after the veteran McCaffrey or we're not going to go after, you know, whatever XYZ, but that's why we didn't sign Aaron Jones. That's why we didn't sign Najee Harris. That type of thing has to be your conviction in the front office. If you're, if you're saying, hey, we're not going to go after somebody like McCaffrey because of the guys we already have. I'm very curious to see what the Broncos ultimately decide to do with this position. And we'll see if McAfrey does become available.

Starting point is 00:30:32 I imagine the Broncos. I imagine a handful of other teams will call and say, hey, what's the price? Or teams have already done that at this point. I mean, that's a common practice around this time of the year. But Broncos country, what do you think should happen? Should the Broncos pick up the phone and say, hey, John Lynch, what's it going to take to get Christian McCaffrey? Let us know your thoughts here on today's episode of Lockdown Broncos,

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Starting point is 00:31:04 When a big time signing happens, you get all your Broncos coverage as to what you need to know what's going on with the team right here on the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. The NFL free agency push continues, and the Bronco's salary cap picture becomes a little bit clearer. After the moves that they've made, what does their salary cap space?

Starting point is 00:31:22 initially look like and we didn't even get a chance to talk about the coaching positional changes promotions that have gone on with this team will highlight that much more plus some other free agency stuff on tomorrow's episode lock on broncos

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