Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - RUN IT BACK OR UPGRADE: Denver Broncos BIGGEST NEEDS Revisited

Starting point is 00:00:00 When it comes to the three biggest needs for the Denver Broncos this off season, we debate whether they should upgrade or run it back. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Happy Thursday, Broncos country. Welcome to another episode, Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day, the number one sports podcast network in the country.

Starting point is 00:00:33 And that's all thanks to all of you every day. out there. Thank you so much for tuning in, making us your first listen, however you choose to do so. We're going to play a little game on today's episode of the show for all our members in Broncos country. We're going to play upgrade or run it back. We'll talk about whether or not Denver will run it back with their running back room that they had here in 2025. We'll also debate and discuss whether they want to upgrade the tight end position or if they like the guys that they have in-house. Plus, why communication and impact play from the linebacker position is absolutely imperative going into this season.

Starting point is 00:01:07 So make sure you play along with us on today's episode of the show. I'm Cody Rourke, credential Broncos reporter for Mile High Sports. Join, as always by Sarah Bedinger, site expert over there at predominantly orange.com. Sarah, I always like when we have a chance to kind of sit back and talk about maybe some big picture stuff, but also have a fun interactive episode for all the members in Broncos country. So let's play a game here today. Run it back or upgrade highlighting the three biggest needs for this team. Let's start off with the running back.

Starting point is 00:01:35 position here for Denver. 2025, it featured R.J. Harvey, J.K. Dobbins, Jalil McLaughlin, Tyler Badeh. And look, all of these names, essentially, we are excited about, I'd say, initially going into the regular season trying to figure out what are the Broncos going to do here. What is R.J. Harvey's role going to be? How is J.K. Dobbins going to produce? Ultimately, we like the questions. I mean, we like the answers that we had to those questions, so to speak, and then J.K. Dobbins got hurt, and that kind of impacted everything. So I think there's some valid arguments here to upgrade the position, but I also think that there are members in

Starting point is 00:02:09 Broncos country that maybe are looking for a change. So where do you stand right now as we play with our interactive whiteboards on today's episode of the show? When it comes to running back, are you upgrading the position or are you going to run it back? It's a great question, Cody, because I think that the argument starts with whether or not you want the duo of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey to be the Broncos running back duo again in 2026. I think a lot of fans want to have their cake and eat it too here. I'm going to go with a surprise answer, I believe. Whoa.

Starting point is 00:02:43 A bit of a surprise. I'm going to say run it back. And here's my reasoning for that. I feel like J.K. Dobbins on a career pace last year, averaging nearly 78 yards a game, really providing the jolt that the Broncos had not had in the running game, at least since Sean Payton arrived. I feel like he was showing to be a great fit for this team.

Starting point is 00:03:06 And then ultimately, at the end of the season, what did Sean Payton reveal to everybody that he felt was the primary issue with the running game? He didn't say, you know, I went to running backs coach Lou A. Annie and I asked him about it. I went to, you know, RJ and I, you know, I gave him a pep talk. He said he went to Zach Streep, the offensive line coach, the run game coordinator, assistant head coach, all of the above. He went to him immediately after that. that playoff loss in the AFC championship game to the New England Patriots, and he went and

Starting point is 00:03:35 talked to him. And so to me, I feel like maybe Sean believes, hey, we've had the right personnel at running back this year, at least in the top two guys in the depth chart. We saw there was some success when J.K. Dobbins was out there. And the Broncos certainly believed that he was going to be able to play in the Super Bowl had they been able to reach that point. And so J.K. Dobbins has effectively recovered from injury. he's proven to be a great fit for this team.

Starting point is 00:04:01 He's proven to be a great fit for the locker room. And I think that he works well as a compliment to RJ Harvey. And the other thing is, is realistically, I'm wondering, who can the Broncos actually get? That's better right now than J.K. Dobbins. I mean, Brees Hall, likely to get franchise tagged, right? I don't know who else out there.

Starting point is 00:04:21 I mean, I'm not saying Brees Hall was the only option, but if he gets tagged, the conversation does get a little bit, you know, it shifts back. towards J.K. Dobbins' direction, I think, pretty violently. Well, and on top of that, too, there's even Kenneth Walker, all the talk there. You know, they got to pay Jackson Smith and Jigba. They have, see, you know, Kenneth Walker would be a priority for them. But, I mean, they're unlikely to use the tag because we talked about the price tag

Starting point is 00:04:45 earlier this week on that. I think those are all very valid points here, right? And when you talk about scheme and the fact that, okay, if you're going to Zach Streth, if you're Sean Payton, you're saying, hey, this is what I like, but we need to be able to run the ball more effectively under center. okay, that's more of a scheme issue, which I feel like you and I have highlighted so many times on this show. I can't even count on one hand, you know, probably 15, 25 times we've talked about it at least throughout the season that, man, is it a personnel issue? Is it a scheme?

Starting point is 00:05:12 And I think we leaned a little bit more towards the scheme side of things because despite even like the inconsistencies in the run game, Dobbins was at 700-something yards. He was a third leading rush in the NFL in week 10 by the time he had that Liz Frank injury. So I think you make some very valid points about running it back. Now, ideally, when you say run it back, are you meaning running it back with J.K. and R.J. Or are you including Jalilip McLaughlin and Tyler Bade and do the same conversation as well? Ah, you caught me. I can't fully say run it back. I have to use my upgrade side of my whiteboard for that question, Cody, because I do think that there's validity to the idea of the Broncos running it back

Starting point is 00:05:55 with Dobbins and Harvey, I think that it's non-negotiable. I think it would be roster malpractice, as we love to say on this show. If the Broncos decided to run it back with Jalulah McLaughlin, Tyler Badegh, those guys, I don't think there's any justification for that whatsoever. I did not like. And you and I talked a million different ways. Like, how can the Broncos keep Adric Estimate? He seems to be buried on the depth chart going into camp.

Starting point is 00:06:23 And like, I know for me personally, like, I was. super worried about them cutting Audrick because of what we talked about during the whole training camp preseason. He's the one guy who provides variance from what you had in the depth department in terms of his size and his ability between the tackles. And go figure what were the Broncos missing down the stretch late last season. Go figure who was the guy who was running pretty dang well for the New Orleans Saints down the stretch last season? Audrick Estimate. So I think you have to draft somebody who provides that variance. in the Depth Department because Jelilohm McLaughlin, Tyler Badeh, even the guys on the practice squad

Starting point is 00:07:00 who are now reserved future players, Cody Schrader and Deuce Vaughn, those guys are all small, diminutive backs who are really just change of pace guys, as opposed to you can plug this guy in for 20 carries like you could, Audrake Estime, and at least he'll go in and be physical. So I think that's what you need. You need an upgrade there in the depth department. I'm talking strictly running it back with your top two guys. All righty. I'm going to go with the opposite here.

Starting point is 00:07:26 I'm going to say the Broncos need to upgrade this position here, Sarah. And I think obviously R.J. Harvey is very much in the mix. RJ status is unquestioned. We're not talking about RJ here, folks. But I think Denver going out and getting a bigger athletic back like a Brees Hall. Look, I think for a brief, he's got the combination of some decent size to him, but also some explosive ability. What is he, 511, 210, 215 pounds.

Starting point is 00:07:50 I like what that maybe brings to the table here a little bit. RJ Harvey, I think is 5-9, if I'm not mistaken, 5-9 but bulky. Sean Payton would say he's not small. He's just short, right? But he's a bigger back, you know, so you have that. But I agree. I think the dynamic in today's game, and we know Sean Peyton believes in the by-committee approach.

Starting point is 00:08:10 Do I agree with Sean that it needs to be three running backs, getting touches throughout the course of a game? No, I don't. I firmly believe it needs to be between two guys. For me, if you add Breeze Hall or a Kenneth Walker, so to speak, into the mix here alongside RJ Harvey. Man, I'm excited about that. If that were the reality, to me, that would be upgrading the position

Starting point is 00:08:31 and getting a lot of value there. And I think that you could finally make it work to where you can have just a two running back rotation without having to bring a third guy into the mix here. And part of me is wondering, like, you know, we saw Tyler Badey, Sean Payton talked about the idea about him being good in pass protection. Okay, RJ is going to continue to grow there. Breeze Hall certainly can pass pro. So that maybe eliminates the need to say, hey, we're going to put this other guy on the field in third down situations.

Starting point is 00:08:57 The defense is going to know that, hey, third down, this running back is in, okay, we know exactly what's going to happen. They're going to be passing. They're probably not going to hand the football off to them. That was problematic there. So I do think in that instance, it can't be an upgrade in overall personnel. And then I would guess that maybe Denver adds another back in the NFL draft. I mean, why not? Why not dip into that, especially when you talk about young guys.

Starting point is 00:09:19 And we'll see obviously which players around the league maybe get cut. I know there have been some rumors of Alvin Camara. And everyone's like, oh, Alvin Camara to Denver. I don't think that's going to happen. I think if Alvin Camara gets cut, I think he'll retire. He's, you know, a talk to our good friend, Ross Jackson and Locked on Saints. The belief over there in New Orleans is he doesn't want to play for any other team. He wants to stay on one team for the remainder of his career.

Starting point is 00:09:39 And if he gets cut, okay, probably going to hang it up there. But you never know. If David Montgomery becomes available, okay. I like that as the size back, so to speak. Is he a number one guy, though? I don't know. There's a lot of questions to be had on that. But I'm very much on board of saying upgrade the running back position.

Starting point is 00:09:56 It just wasn't good enough down the stretch there. And I think Denver's overall depth. And once again, I'm a big Jaloolea McLaughlin fan. They didn't hand him the ball enough. I'd say down the stretch of the season, they didn't use him enough. And that, I think, put a lot of pressure on RJ Harvey, who as a rookie, we already know how complex Sean's offense is. Imagine that was frustrating.

Starting point is 00:10:16 But Broncos Country, let us know. you want the Broncos to run it back at running back or do you want them to upgrade the position? Let us know here on today's episode of the show. But coming up next, Sarah and I, we're going to talk about the tight-in position and whether or not Denver needs to massively upgrade the talent in that room or if they're going to run it back themselves. We'll debate it on today's episode of the show. Today's episode of the show is brought to our friends over there at five-hour energy.

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Starting point is 00:12:45 This is a job for indeed sponsored jobs. The Denver Broncos have players who are playing specific roles at the tight end position, but is it time to upgrade the talent? Cody and I are going to tell you why we think it probably is time to do that on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos and Broncos Country. We appreciate every single one of you out there so much who are everydayers, everyday listeners of the show. And if you haven't already done so, Cody and I want to invite you to join the

Starting point is 00:13:11 Every Day or All Access Club. The off season, it does not exist for the Everyday or Club. Join the group chat. You can talk Broncos year round with us and other members of Broncos country, as well as get every episode of the show ad free plus more exclusive content. Head to the show notes to subscribe to that today. We appreciate you for considering that Broncos country. And Cody, let's talk about the tight end position.

Starting point is 00:13:34 Our whiteboards are ready here. We're talking whether or not we would upgrade or run it back. The Broncos tight end group this past year, obviously. You know, the big addition, Evan Ingram, the starter, Adam Troutman. And of course, the depth piece is there, Lucas Crowell. And then you had Nate Adkins playing a hybrid role, the draft pick, Caleb Loner, the veteran who came in off the streets, Mercedes-Louis. What are we saying? I think it's an obvious one here.

Starting point is 00:13:58 Are we saying upgrade or are we saying run it back? You absolutely 110% have to upgrade this position. There is no way you can run it back with Evan Ingram, Adam Troutman, Nate Adopt. That can't be the primary tight end room here for Denver in 2026. Evan Ingram, yes, should be a part of that. I think you can make an argument for Nate Adkins because of his contract status. I believe he's a restricted free agent, if I'm not mistaken right there. So I would bring Nate Adkins back because I do think he brings value as a blocker.

Starting point is 00:14:28 But are you having Nate Adkins be your primary? No, you're not. But you need a guy who can come in and play that hybrid role. He can be that full back, H-back type of player. But what I'm saying here is, okay, alongside Evan Ingram, who we, I think all agree. You have to find a way to utilize more. The 42% of offensive snaps he played last year, in my opinion, that was negligence on behalf of the coaching staff. You sold to Evan Ingram. Come to Denver. We really, really want you here. And this is what we're going to do with you.

Starting point is 00:14:56 You're going to be the Joker. And guess what? They never used him in that way from time to time they did. But it wasn't consistent, right? It's heavy personnel, block, block, decoy stuff there. And that's frustrating there. But the Broncos desperately need to up. upgrade this position. But I think we can maybe even look at this from the standpoint, Sarah, what does that look like? What does an upgraded tight end room look like? What are the traits specifically that we are looking for here if Denver's going to make this room a little bit better in 2026? I see a lot of people, because we've talked about tight ends. A lot of Broncos fans said, we need someone who can block really well and be an elite pass catcher. Sarah, I don't know

Starting point is 00:15:34 who that is. I don't think those guys are just readily available out there. If anything, you might I had to take a swing on a guy in the NFL draft, but, man, I don't even think that's the conversation to share. So how can Denver upgrade this room if that's not necessarily something that's readily available for them? Well, we talked in our squad show earlier this week about the fact that the tight end crop in free agency is very, very deep. There's a number of names that could be available in trades.

Starting point is 00:16:03 In fact, you and I have talked about the idea of trading for, you know, T.J. Hawkinson, if the Vikings are willing to wheel and deal with an interim general manager. I'm 100% with you, Cody. You've got to find the way to upgrade, but we don't just present problems around here at lockdown Broncos. We present solutions. And to me, you have to double dip. You have to either go after somebody in a trade or a free agent signing type of move, and then you have to double dip in the NFL draft where there are guys that, man, they may not be the, you know, the Kenyan Sadiq type prospects out of Oregon, right? But you're talking about guys who might be sleepers. Guys, there's a, there's a tight end coming out of Utah, once again, who played,

Starting point is 00:16:42 you know, more than 59 snaps this past season or over the course of his collegiate career, who's not a career basketball player, all due respect to Caleb Loner. I'm excited to see how he progresses in year two, but there's players like that. There's Sam Ruch, the tight end from Stanford, who plays in line and can catch some passes for you. There's a number of players that I think you look at and you say, all right, there's, there's opportunities both in free agency and the draft, the only loss that we could take is not taking a shot on somebody at the proper spot. Right. So you got to sign somebody or trade somebody. And then you got to draft somebody before the, you know, dead to last pick in the draft. I mean, you got to invest in the position.

Starting point is 00:17:26 That's what we're saying. Invest in this position. You got Evan Ingram already. He's already got five million guaranteed on his salary for this year. So you're invested. Davis Webb was his teammate with the Giants. He knows him. He knows how to use him. He's throwing a touchdown pass to him. So it's, it's, let's figure out a way to involve Evan and get some inline guys or jumbo package guys who actually present threats in the passing game. My biggest concern here, Sarah, is that when we look at tight end, it's not just upgrading it for this year, but Evan after this year is a free agent. Outside of that, Denver, the outlook at tight end is very, very bleak. So for me, they may have to make a couple of moves here this offseason.

Starting point is 00:18:07 I am all in on Kenyon Sadiq. Obviously, I'm an Oregon Ducks fan, man. I love Sadiq. My biggest worry is that a team like Kansas City or the Chargers, division rivals, will maybe look to snag a guy like that. I know obviously in L.A. They got Gadsden. He may just stay there, but I'm worried about K.C.

Starting point is 00:18:25 getting him, especially with Travis Kelsey, more than likely, probably set to retire after this year. I think the indication he's going to play one more year and then retire. I don't want Kansas City to get Sadiq. I think he'd be great, but also it's on Sean Payton. The coaches to use him, to use a player like that, to maximize that. Because you and I've also talked about the issue and how they're using the tight ends, is that just because they don't trust Troutman to be a consistent pass catching option?

Starting point is 00:18:51 That's why he was your number one tight end in terms of overall snaps, but he only had 20 catches on the year on 23 targets. He's not heavily featured. He didn't even have 200 yards receiving this season. So you have to upgrade this position not only from a personnel standpoint, but I think from a schematic standpoint to how you use these guys. So I'm very curious to see how Davis Webb, whether or not, obviously, if he is the play caller here, I think if he's the play caller,

Starting point is 00:19:17 you'll see the tight end position kind of be used a little bit more. That's just a hunch that I have. There's no guarantee of that. But Denver can't run it back with the status quo at this position. It's just simply not good enough for them to sustain or even produce more on offense. upgrade the tidal in position and guess what Denver's going to find a way to score more points that has to be an emphasis here going forward it does it's it'll draw eyes to the middle of the field it'll you know it'll take attention off the wide receivers and the outside i mean it's just

Starting point is 00:19:45 all encompassing it's so much more beneficial especially when you have past catching threats on the field teams can't just sell out to stop the run right i mean the broncos kind of try have tried to do that with their jumbo package and just saying hey you know what we might run a two-man route, but over the course of a season or the course of the last three years, teams have picked up on tendencies when the Broncos go into their jumbo personnel and they're saying, hey, this percentage of the time, they're throwing it. And even if they do throw, it's a two-man route concept or, you know, whatever it may be. So we can sell out to stop the run.

Starting point is 00:20:18 I would reckon that's probably factored pretty significantly in the team's inability to really generate consistency on the ground. So you have to have past catching threats who are viable options. and true weapons for you. I mean, the joke that Sean Payton made at the end of last season about Adam Troutman needing five catches to reach an incentive, that's pretty much what he gets all year. That is a frustrating sort of, I guess,

Starting point is 00:20:43 microcosm of the problem, you know, when it comes to this position group for the Broncos, is the fact that you've got a guy out there who is a non-threat to catch passes, who's just like a number of other players on this offense, sort of a tell when they're on the field, this is what we're trying to do. It was a bad confession from Sean Payton. I know he was joking, but it was very much like it was a joke that had a lot of truth rooted behind it there.

Starting point is 00:21:09 So I'm with you there here. Broncos Country Lessner, are you team run it back at tight end? Are you team upgraded? And if so, what are your upgrade options for this position? But coming up next, Sarah and I, we're going to talk about the lineback position. Another big need here for this team. Does never run it back with Alex Singleton, Drake Greenlaw, Justin Sternad, or do they completely revamp this position room? We'll debate that here on today's episode of the show.

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Starting point is 00:22:39 2026 offseason. It's fair enough to bring some change and maybe some continuity of certain spots here. But the debate is whether or not the Broncos should run it back with Alex Singleton, Justin Sternadre Greenlaw, or to upgrade the position entirely. I think there's some arguments for both to be had here, Sarah. So much is also contingent upon what. Denver decides to do with Dre Greenlaw, right? Not saying that they are, but if Denver were to move on from Dre after just one season,

Starting point is 00:23:07 that would likely indicate that they're probably going to bring back Justin and or Alex Singleton. Sternad wants to be a starter. And I know there's been some rumblings out there that maybe Alex Singleton could be looking at something around 14 million per year. And as much as I love Alex Singleton, Sarah, I am not on board with a 14 million per to bring him back, especially at the age of 33. And I like Singleton a lot.

Starting point is 00:23:30 As a human being, I think as a football player, dude's got nothing but heart and great. He's tough as hell. But that's just not, I think, a smart move here for the Broncos, especially while Bo Nix is on a rookie contract. So let's start off with you as we continue our game of upgrade or run it back. When it comes to the lineback position, where are you at, my friend? I'm at the upgrade, the linebacker position,

Starting point is 00:23:52 1 million percent, Cody. I mean, you pick the number. That's what percentage I'm at over 100. I mean, it has to be upgraded. I think that, look, the, and maybe the reason why I think a lot of Broncos country is so hell bent on the idea of upgrading the position is because deep down inside, we know that the team is not going to do it. I think that let's just acknowledge that reality.

Starting point is 00:24:17 Let's put some words to the things that we may be feeling or even fearing in Broncos country is that this team is just going to run it back. This team is going to just pay Singleton, bring back Sternad, and cut. Dre Greenlaw. Would that be the, would that be the worst case scenario in your mind, Cody? Because to me, that would be, I don't know that it would be necessarily worst case. I guess you have to maybe think through that a little bit more. But the idea of the Broncos just saying, we're going to bring back Singleton, we're going to bring back Sternad, and we're going to cut Drey Greenlaw. It just didn't work out. There's a reason why the Broncos decided to go after Drean law in the

Starting point is 00:24:54 first place. Isn't there? I mean, they've got, they can't, they can't just forget that. And that was brought up by one of our good friends who joins the squad shows every time. So I can't take credit for that thought even. But I think that it's just, look, that's what I feel like is going to happen, is they're going to bring back Sternad and Singleton and cut Dre Greenlaw. So I don't know if I'm trying to just manifest the idea of an upgrade. I'm with you on upgrading it. I think the Broncos absolutely have to upgrade this position here.

Starting point is 00:25:25 And it's not just necessarily your starters. I think you also have to upgrade the depth at this position here. Look, Drew Sanders is entering a contract here. Yes, you have Lavelle Bailey, Jordan Turner, two undrafted rookie guys at one point that have, I'd say, kind of taking this developmental track. I like Jordan Turner. I think a lot as a developmental player. I thought we saw some really nice flashes from him.

Starting point is 00:25:49 I remember going to rookie minicamp, and he was the one guy that stood out to me during that. Obviously, earned himself an invite to training camp, did a lot with his opportunities, was great in the preseason there. That's why he was on the practice squad. But the path for him is that developmental league type of stuff here for him on the practice squad, not necessarily being thrust into his starting position. Lavel Bailey was kind of like this, hey, could this guy just come in and earn a starting job last year? Like that's what we had thought initially based on where he was at. But then that was not the case at all. From all the hype in the off season, training camp, preseason, we did not see really anything from LaVille in terms of how he was used. So,

Starting point is 00:26:27 There is that. I mean, you can keep those guys as developmental prospects, right? But let's say under the circumstance that you're bringing either one sternat or singleton back, one of those guys as a starter, you know, and if you do run it back with Dre Greenlaw, so to speak, that still doesn't answer the concerns that you have about this position because of Dre's injury history, because of Drew Sanders' injury history, there's a real strong chance Drew Sanders didn't make it to the roster after training camp. But really, he has to have an otherworldly type of off season, I think, in order to get there because of the injuries that he unfortunately has sustained. To me, this is a position very much. I would like the Broncos to sign someone in free agency,

Starting point is 00:27:08 somebody different. And I understand there's the reality that someone's going to have to learn Vance Joseph's complex defense that Dre Greenlaw said it was equated to learning Spanish, so to speak. I'm a big believer in also drafting a player here in one of the earlier rounds. I'm not talking rounds five or six or seven. I'm talking about maybe round two, round three line backer at this point. That's where I'm at in terms of upgrading the position here. I think you can't run it back. You can bring one, but not both of Sternad and Singleton back.

Starting point is 00:27:37 You have to choose between one of those guys there. Now, let me kind of flip it here because this kind of changes it. Do you bring back, like if you had to bring back one of those two guys, who would you bring back? I would bring back Sir Nad. I would. I just think that he's been the best over the last couple of years. You and I have talked about that on this show multiple times.

Starting point is 00:27:55 And look, I could see us. scenario that is, is, you know, you got to be patient in this scenario. But like, you know, our boy, Daniel Jeremiah had the Broncos taking Georgia linebacker, C.J. Allen in the first round of his mock draft. So do you run it back with that group or, you know, do you say, hey, it's Sternard and Greenlaw. Is that even an option? I mean, like, is that an option, Cody. And if that is, that might not be terrible. Sternad and, and Greenlaw in the starting lineup. And then you draft somebody high. I wouldn't be upset by that. I just think that, look, the status quo when a Super Bowl is on the line, that doesn't, that doesn't work for me.

Starting point is 00:28:35 I just think that you look back at some of the best Broncos teams. They could have said after the 2013 season, uh, you know what? We got guys coming back healthy. We've got a good roster. We've got Peyton Manning. We're good. We'll be all right. We can run it back with certain guys.

Starting point is 00:28:51 And no, they did not. John Lowe was like, we're getting to Marcus Ware. We're getting the keep to leave. We're getting T.J. war. We're getting Emmanuel Sanders. We're going to use our first round pick on Bradley Roeby. Like it was aggressive on top of aggressive.

Starting point is 00:29:04 And it worked. They got a Super Bowl two years later. And that was after, you know, you get done with the 2014 playoffs and they're like, John Fox is not doing it. I mean, playoffs are great, but we want to win a Super Bowl. We're going to go hire Gary Kubiak. That's the mentality that I want this Broncos front office to have is not just, this is the good old boys club.

Starting point is 00:29:24 This is our, you know, like, oh, these are our guys. Like Nick Ferguson was saying on our squad show, Cody, there has to be some emotional detachment. I mean, there's emotional attachment to Alex Singleton. The guy has given his heart and soul to the Denver Broncos and legitimately played through a cancer diagnosis. Like that can't be diminished. It can't be overstated. But now that we're in the off season, the deck gets reshuffled. And so you have to detach from all that stuff.

Starting point is 00:29:53 You have to detach from whatever emotional attachment you had to. to these guys. And I will once again say, and if it ends up happening, I'll take all the credit. Caden Ellis should be one of the number one targets for this team. In free agency, he fits perfectly with what they're trying to do. Sean knows him too. And Sean knows him. So I don't think you can go away from this off season without upgrading this position,

Starting point is 00:30:17 although it may require patience because that upgrade may not come until the NFL draft. I'm very curious to see what they do at linebacker specifically. But I mean, look, Broncos country, we've thrown it out there. Let us know your thoughts. Run it back, upgrade. What do those upgrades look like? Make sure you let us know here on today's episode of the show.

Starting point is 00:30:35 But that'll wrap up today's episode of Lockdown Broncos for all you every dayers. Here's what you're going to get on tomorrow's show. Sarah and I want to talk about the salary cap, folks. Right now the Broncos have 26 to 28 million in salary cap space coming into this off season. But we'll tell you how they can free up even more space. And what moves are more likely for them to restructure or to move on from. We'll go through all that. on tomorrow's episode of the show.

Starting point is 00:30:57 We'll see you then.

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