Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Veteran Receiver Key to Denver Broncos Accelerating Bo Nix's Development?

Episode Date: February 13, 2025

Would a veteran addition to the Denver Broncos help accelerate the development of Bo Nix as he heads into his second season? How could a player like Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel, or Tee Higgins help Nix and the Broncos offense take a step in the right direction? How might the Broncos approach the first two rounds of the NFL Draft and is there a specific linebacker that would be the best fit for the Broncos defense in NFL Free Agency? Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and covers the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos. WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT?For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today -- Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBroncos?sid=YouTube Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL Follow on Twitter: @CodyRoarkNFL and @SayreBedingerFollow the show on Twitter: @LockedOnBroncos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. 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.

Broncos country has a lot of burning questions, but one of the more pressing ones is, can a veteran-free agent help accelerate the development of Broncos soon-to-be second-year quarterback, Bo Nix? We'll debate that much more and answer your mailback questions 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, welcome into another episode, Lockdown, Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast. part of the Lockdown Podcast Network where you know it is your team every day for all your Broncos news, content coverage, analysis, and more every single day all year long because for the true fan, there is never an off season.

Broncos country. Lockdown Broncos is the place to be. Thank you so much, all the everydayers out there. Thanks to all of you who make us your first listen. However, you choose to do so. I'm Cody Rourke. Broncos reporter for Mile High Sports. joined as always by Sarah Bedinger, site expert, predominantly orange.com, and daily we bring you the best Broncos podcast. that is out there in the entire atmosphere. We appreciate you so much for rocking with us. We've got a lot to break down here on today's episode of the show. As some of the news has died down a little bit,

Broncos country sent in their mailbag questions, and we're going to go through and wrap things up on today's show by answering which inside linebacker might be the best fit for the Broncos in free agency. We'll also talk about maybe with the Broncos' best approach to this year's NFL draft may be in the first two rounds. We're going to kick things off by talking about whether or not a veteran acquisition on the offensive side of the ball, a wide receiver or other positions could help accelerate the development of Bo Nix.

So, Sarah, let's waste no time. Let's dive into that. We open up the mailbag here for everyone in Broncos country over there on Twitter, and they sent in their questions. Our first one comes in from our good friend, Newtype underscore JK47 on Twitter. He asked the question, if the Broncos can attain a sure-handed vet like a Cooper Cup or Debo Samuel, wouldn't we accelerate Bo Nix's development? He made the example.

He compared it to the bills helped Josh Allen by going out there and getting Stefan Diggs. And obviously that helped Josh Allen take a step forward in his game as a QB. Your thoughts on this? Yeah, Cody, I mean, you look at what the Broncos have right now with Cortland Sutton. Like, shouldn't he be that guy, right? That's kind of what I would think. And Sutton had a much better year in 2024 than I think a lot of people would have expected. Eclipse the 1,000 yards finally again for the first time since what, 2019.

And that was a huge milestone for him. But also I think it just kind of proved that when you elevate it. the quarterback play and the consistency there that Sutton can be better. Now, what's really interesting is I agree with the nature of the question from new type JK 47 because I don't know that the Broncos necessarily have that guy that Bo Nix can go to every single play or any on any given play. Maybe as a better way to put it. Because remember, I think it was the game against New Orleans or something like that where Sutton didn't have a single target in the first half and then Bo Nix had a comment after the,

the game where he's like, hey, if you ever have a situation where you're not getting a target in the first half, like, come and basically like grabbing by the face mask and tell me I'm being stupid sort of a thing. Like, I'll get you the ball. But I don't know. Is Sutton that guy? And I just, that's where I'm wondering like, okay, the person who's going to take so much more attention and make Sutton better. Like that to me would help the offense tremendously. I don't know exactly what the answer is, Cody, if it is Cooper Cup or if it's Debo Samuel, that's going to be that consistent. I think it's got to be somebody that gets open quickly and consistently. If that's Cooper Cup, if it's Debo Samuel, if it's somebody else in free agency or the NFL

draft, I think there's every stone here needs to be turned over because it's not a Josh Reynolds type. It's not the Tim Patrick types. I mean, those guys would have helped this past season in certain spots. And certainly you would think that maybe they wouldn't have dropped some passes that were dropped. But at the same time, the Stefan Diggs thing is very interesting because that was a guy who raised the floor for Josh Allen. I know I use that term all the time. But I don't know that the Broncos have that on the roster. And I don't know where they would get it either.

Yeah, it's a great question. And look, I think it goes back to Sean, what he said already, a row, it said, you know, our wide receiver room is better than people may think. And I agree with him. I don't know how you feel about what Sean said. there. But I like where they are potentially headed with Marvin Mims, with Troy Franklin, with Devon Valle. And look, you know, you look at it in a vacuum of one season. Devon Valey had some big moments for the Broncos. Troy Franklin had some big moments. And, you know,

obviously, I think we saw the best version of Troy against the New Orleans Saints in that game where they were using him on deep crossing patterns. They were finding ways to get him the ball in space. And then obviously the deep ball against the Buffalo Bills. And of course, people are going to go and say, okay, look at all the drops that he had or look at the misconnections there. That's part of it. That's just part of just getting comfortable. in the system. And I think that Troy's going to be better off than most people think, Sarah. And I think there's a widespread belief amongst Broncos country where they're, you know, it's like questionable in their eyes, which is fair. I, you know, I understand that.

But I agree with you. I think really outside of Cortland Sutton, you need to add another guy. And the number one thing I'm seeing, too, is like the Broncos need a separator. They got a separator on this roster, Sarah. And that's Troy Franklin. Everything else has to come into fruition here. But they got a deep speed guy like Marvin who we've seen can get behind defenses, 93-yard touchdown, Devon Valet, big body possession type guy. But Denver doesn't need a guy who's just like this world beater that, you know, nobody can guard him in a sense. Like, that would be nice. But those guys don't just hit free agency and they're not normally available for trade.

But do you have good route runners? Do you have good possession guys? I look at Cooper Cup, great route runner, I think is a good possession guy for you, sure-handed guy. I think Debo Samuel is a sure-handed guy here. And obviously there's the debating factor that, you know, you can factor in whether or not you want to go Cooper Cup or Depot, Samuel. I think if the Broncos were to somehow get either one of those guys this offseason, I think I'd be happy with it. And it would allow your other guys like the Franklins, the Mims, the Devon Valets to go out there and continue to accelerate in their

development. And maybe even afford opportunities, maybe guys like A.T. Perry as well, who's going to be a big part of the training camp preview in which we're going to be looking forward to seeing him this July in the summer competing for maybe some playing time this upcoming season. But to me, I don't think there's just a one-size-fits-all answer. I think any veteran addition to this receiving room, as you mentioned, not the veteran moves, it would be like adding a Josh Reynolds or a Tim Patrick, but guys who would be better additions, you know, that would give the Broncos a little bit more star power, essentially.

I think that would help with Bone Knicks' continued development. And look, you know, you still have options. You still are, it's about getting chemistry down pat with the guys that you have. I think adding a veteran would be crucial. And I think Sean Payton believes the same. But as he said, is it a must have? I mean, he didn't say it was a must have. But he did say it was a need,

which was second in terms of the bucculus, which I think needs are pretty important as well. Yeah, they are. And I think to answer the question directly, can a free agent veteran help accelerate Bo Nix's development? I think yes, it depends on the guy. But I think the answer is yes, because the Broncos were among the league leaders last year and dropped passes. I mean, certainly that helps accelerate a quarterback's development when your guys aren't dropping passes and you're able to go out there and extend drives or he makes a really good throw on

third down and all of a sudden, hey, you move the chains, you get more life, you know, more plays, more plays equals more development, right? That's how you develop as you keep on playing. And if you're getting off the field because your receivers aren't catching the ball, that was one of the biggest problems for the Broncos this past year is inefficiency from the wide receiver position on a week to week basis. You had big weeks from Marvin Mims, had big weeks from Cortland Sutton, Devon Valey. Even Troy Franklin at times had some big moments, but was anything consistent enough? I don't think so.

And that's a lot to ask. I mean, Stefan Diggs type of trade doesn't happen every year. But, I mean, last year, you look at the number of trades that were made across the league, Cody, you can see that teams are trying to get those types of guys for their quarterbacks. And you look at, I mean, the Keenan Allen moved by the Bears. And certainly that helped. Jerry Judy, even though the Browns didn't go anywhere, he was a huge addition to that

Cleveland offense going over a thousand yards and being a go-to threat. I don't know that the Broncos have anybody like that that can get consistently open. Now, we'll see what happens with the progression of these guys, like you mentioned, because is Broncos country going to be okay? This is a follow-up question. Will Broncos country be okay if Sean Payton and the staff believe so much in the wide receiver group that they have that they really don't do much at all? Like, would they be okay if it's a Josh Reynolds type of addition coming into the room?

I'm like, to me, that would be so frustrating because you're saying that you like the youth and then you're bringing in a guy who's going to take snaps from those players that doesn't elevate the room substantially enough. So that's kind of where my thinking is at, Cody, is that you have to substantially elevate the talent in this room with at least one addition. And it's not necessarily going to be the Josh Reynolds types that are, hey, great wide receiver four, even a decent wide receiver three at times. But that's it. I think you need somebody that can be at least a wide receiver 1A or 1B in this instance. I agree with you there. And I'm very curious for Broncos country thoughts. Make sure you share your thoughts with us on today's episode of the show here.

And there are a multitude of guys out there. And part of me is thinking, Sarah, it's not going to necessarily come via a free agency. I think if Denver is going to add a veteran receiving option, I think it is going to come via trade versus the latter there. So we'll see how things go here for the Broncos. Obviously, you know, the off season. It's very fresh. Free agency is just under a month away, which is very exciting for you and I and everyone in Broncos country.

We'll literally take a look at every potential good fit here for the Broncos all throughout the next couple of weeks here on the show in free agency. Specifically, at some of the positions the Broncos need the most. We'll look at pros and cons for each player, the top players that will highlight as well here. But we're not done yet, Broncos country. We've got a lot to break down here on today's mailbag episode of the show. And the next thing we're going to discuss is the Broncos best approach in the NFL draft to go offense? in the first two rounds. We'll break that down a much more here on today's episode,

Lockdown Broncos. Today's Lockdown Broncos podcast is brought to my friends over there at LinkedIn Jobs. And as a small business owner, your work doesn't end when the clock hits five. Your business, it's always on your mind, which means that when it's time to hire, you need a partner that works just as hard as you do. That's where LinkedIn jobs comes in handy because when you clock out,

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will the Denver Broncos have their eyes strictly on offensive players early on? Or should they maybe go defense with those first two picks? Cody and I are going to break down exactly why the ideal scenario for the Denver Broncos may actually be that there is no ideal scenario because there's so many great options in the NFL draft this year. Broncos country, thanks so much for tuning in today. And every day, for all you everyday listeners, you already know your boys, Cody and Sayer, we got you.

every day with every single bit of Denver Broncos news content coverage and more throughout the offseason. And if you're not in every day or just yet, go ahead and become one by hitting subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts as well as on YouTube. Let's talk about this ideal scenario, Cody, because I love the question from Wes and Michael on Twitter. Just a couple of people wondering kind of similar things when it comes to NFL draft strategy. The thoughts on what position the Broncos should target in the first round or like, you know, ideal first round outcome, you know, I think what I said before it applies here. Like, I think the ideal scenario is that there is no ideal, right?

It's like the ideal last year would have been quarterback at 12 overall or you trade back and get a quarterback, right? This year, I think it's kind of nice because the Broncos have so many different directions they could go. It could be defensive line. It could be tied in, running back, even receiver in the first round. maybe even a linebacker if you want to get crazy there. I think that there's a ton of different directions that they could go.

What are your thoughts on this question that was sent in about, I mean, what position should the Broncos be targeting in the first round if there is one specific spot? Yeah, I'll answer one of the first questions here in terms of like thoughts on what position Denver should target in the first round. I mean, Sarah, it's so hard right now to go out there and say like, this is it. Just because free agency hasn't hit yet, we don't know what moves the Broncos are going

to make between now and obviously free agency, waves one and waves two. I think once we see the Broncos make the first couple of big moves in free agency, whatever they may be, then I think that will give us an idea because under Sean Payton and under George Peyton really has been about drafting the best player available. Now, I would say last year when they picked 12th overall, the best player available happened to be a position of need for the Broncos last year, and that was Bo Nix. So for me, I look at where Denver is at and you look at the moves. that they can make. Of course, everyone's talking about running back, Ashton Genty, you know,

and I don't know if Denver's going to be in a position, you know, if he's going to be available when they're picking at 20, if he is and they decide to do that. I mean, I certainly wouldn't dislike it, right? I think if that's the case, if they're going to take a running back, that means that they've addressed their other needs and free agency there. And they believe that's the position that they need the most value at here. Tight end. I mean, there's, I'll see a lot of conversation about Warren out of Penn State, Colston Loveland out of Michigan. Those seem like the top two targets at Broncos country. If they had to choose a position or players to target, it would be the genties.

It would be the Warrens. It would be everybody else in regards to maybe where Denver's lacking the most right now. And that's running back and tied in on offense. And then linebacker, would linebacker be a popular move, Sarah, in round one? I don't know how Broncos country would feel about that. But then again, like I said, these are all hypotheticals to answer this question. so much depends on what they do in free agency. And I think we'll have a better idea and a better understanding once we see those first handful of moves made here.

But I wanted to ask your question here because this is another one came in from Michael. It said should Denver's first two picks in the draft be on defense because tight end and running backs in the third and fourth are not that much different after Loveland and Johnson? Your thoughts on that part of the question? I like that strategy. I mean, there's no doubt that the Broncos will be looking at the defensive line in this draft. I think I just heard Daniel Jeremiah recently. Somebody pointed out that he said he graded like, what was it? Was it you telling me this yesterday, Cody?

Yeah. He graded 12 guys as, you know, future starters in the NFL last year. And this year, it's up to 24 on the defensive line. So you have very much so a plethora of talented defensive linemen in this class, which conventional logic would say, okay, well, then wait to take those guys. But I think you might be just wherever you're picking in. any round. You might be looking at a defensive lineman being the best possible value at that pick. And so what I think with draft strategy, I like this idea of, hey, could we find a Joker at

any point in this draft? Because remember, Sean Payton has found them all over the place, whether it was Jimmy Graham on day three, Darren Sproul's in free agency, you trade for other guys, Alvin Camara was a third round pick. So it's not like you need to have a first round guy be your Joker. And I think unless the Broncos specifically target a player in round one that they're like, this guy is the guy that's going to change the offense, you know, whether it's Colston Loveland, whether it's Tyler Warren or Ashton Genty, whoever it may be, if they're like, hey, this guy is the Sequin Barkley for us this year. Like maybe he's not going to run for 2,000 yards or rack up 2,000 yards from scrimmage, but he's the guy that's going to change the game for us offensively.

Like if that guy exists on your draft board, by all means, go and get him. But other than that, I think you have to kind of start thinking about, okay, where are the positions that are the most expensive going forward that we can get a quality starter on a rookie contract? Because running backs, you're not paying that much. Tight ends, you're not paying that much. You can go get those guys in free agency or via trade, things like that on a year to year basis. But wide receivers, defensive linemen, those types of. guys are going to cost you a lot of money going forward if you don't have the guys already

under contract on the roster. And just so happens, Cody, that there are no defensive linemen under contract right now for 2026. And so that is a spot that I can see. Okay, the Broncos are starting to forward think a little bit in terms of that position group as opposed to saying, hey, we need this position for our offense because, you know, that's the must have. The must have can come at any point in time. but those defensive linemen that cost a lot of money. I mean, shoot, I wouldn't be opposed to going even back-to-back D lineman in this draft up top. Yeah, I don't disagree with you there because, you know, you brought up the great point about positional value. And I didn't think about it until you said it, the monetary value of those positions, right?

Because we've seen the depreciation, really outside of the Sequin Barclays, Derek Henry's, the depreciation of the running back money market because of the volume of touches. And certainly I think people are going to look at Gentine and are going to be like, well, you know, he's got a lot of miles on him in terms of how he's, He's ran the ball and things like that. The amount of touches that he can get. Of course, he's a prolific player. But does that decrease his value in the future? I think that's something with how we've seen the NFL and at least how organizations have

treated that position. Same with tight ends. That definitely is a little bit of a concern when you look at it in comparison to running back tight end. Detackle probably has the most value. Wide receiver has the most value here, I think, in terms of where Denver can go. And I'm excited about it. Because also this year's wide receiver class has a ton of talented players as well,

though I'm pretty sure, probably. four or five of them will go way before pick number 20 when the Broncos are on the clock. So it's by identifying the right value. You know, you mentioned Joker types like Neil out of Kansas. I know is the name that people have thrown out there for Broncos country. I just think that Denver is going to approach this, you know, very aggressively, you know, whether they trade. I also wouldn't be shocked if this is the year they trade back, Sarah.

They trade back a couple of spots, maybe acquire a back in and a round one pick there and maybe a front loaded a round two pick there to start things off just to be able to to say, hey, we've got the capital to maybe make a couple of splash moves here at the top in the top 100 of the free NFL draft priority market, depending on also what they do in free agency. So I think that would be a good approach for them too. We got one more question that came in here from Rick on Twitter. He says, could you see Denver move up in round one for a premier running back? I do not see the Broncos trading up one bit to move up to get a running back in round one of the NFL. That just doesn't sound like something Sean Payton would do.

I don't think so either, Cody. if he didn't trade up for Bo Nix. I mean, right? Like, that's the, I don't know if that's necessarily equivalent. You know, that might be a bit apples to oranges, but I mean, we heard it from Jay Glazer back at Super Bowl Radio Row that he's like, Sean Payton is basically calling him every day, bothering him about whether or not the Rams were going to move up to get Bo Nix, right?

And even the threat of teams like the Rams or maybe even the Raiders moving up for Bo Nix didn't prompt Sean Payton to move up a single pick. And I wonder if the strategy, though, changes now that you have the quarterback in place. I mean, I could see them maybe potentially doing it, but because George Payton did it in his first draft with the team, he traded up. I know it was the second round, but he traded up to get Javante Williams at the top of the second round. So, I mean, it's not impossible, but is that the best use of assets, right? I mean, you need these picks to continue to fill out the roster. And I just think trading up for a running back, unless you're certain, like you have to be 100%

thousand percent positive. That guy's going to be the Sequin Barclay type because only one back has been drafted with as much mileage at the collegiate level as Ashton Genty has. And that's Darren McFadden all the way back in 2008. Nobody else has taken on this much mileage at the college level and been selected in the first round. So it would be virtually unprecedented. And I just think, look, that's a position group that Bucky Irving, fourth round pick,

one of the best rookies in the league. Like find a guy like the Cameras, like the Irvings, that you can maybe steal instead of going up and going after a guy that might not provide you much different production. If anyone knows how to find that type of guy, it looks like it could be Sean Payton here. We still got a lot to discuss here on today's episode. The show Broncos country up next.

We're going to answer a mailback question sent in. Ask the question, which inside linebacker that's set to hit free agency is the best fit here for the Broncos in 2025? Today's Lockdown Broncos podcast is brought to you by friends over there at Fandu. And when the game tips off, the NBA action is just getting started. And there is no better place to get in on it than with Fanduil, America's number one sportsbook, whether it's betting on triple doubles, end-of game comebacks. Fandual has all the action when it comes to the NBA season because with Fanduel,

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of today's episode, Lockdown, Broncos is here. We're going to continue with your mailbag questions. Real quick, I wanted to say thank you once again, all the everydayers out there in Broncos country. Thanks for making us your first listen, however you choose to do so. When you want to know, all throughout the entire off-season, what's going on with your favorite team, from

coaching hires, to rumors, to free agency, to the NFL draft, to live boots on the ground coverage in the Valley. Lockdown Broncos is the best place to get all that action every single day. We appreciate you so much there. Broncos country, your boy, Sarah and Cody, we got you covered every day all you long because for the true fan, there is never in off season. Let's get into our final mailbag question on today's episode of the show.

And it happens to pertain around the inside linebacker position. The question comes in from Carson on Twitter. And he asked the question, who is the best option in free agency for inside linebacker? And I think a lot of it, too, Sarah, we look at this. position and we look at linebacker and we fact to factor, okay, what's a good fit for this defense? Is there a good stylistic fit? Is there a good culture fit here? Who can play that type of role? That I think has to be the first question we answer because we can look at some of the top names, but are they a scheme fit? I think is a different question that maybe changes that

here. I think there are a couple guys. I think one guy that is a scheme fit that probably could do a really good job. Zach Bond of the Philadelphia Eagles. But I mean, how likely would that be here for Denver considering he just won the Super Bowl. They may look to run it back and he was a big part of that defense there under Vic Fangio where he was a defensive player of the year candidate. Yeah, I don't know how likely that is, Cody, because I mean, the Eagles could probably franchise tag him for a pretty reasonable price in terms of what linebackers make around the NFL.

I don't know the exact number there on the franchise tag. But regardless, you have to feel like Zach Bond is going to want to run it back with the Eagles. Like, just won a Super Bowl with those guys and playing for a Fangeo, we know, like, not every, it's not for every player, but a player like Zach Bonn, like he can thrive in that scheme for as long as Fangio is coaching there. And so, why not continue to, to play in a place where you can continue to make more and more money, as opposed to just taking the first blank check that you're offered? I know that there is a connection

there between the Broncos and Zach Bond, being that Sean Payton was part of drafting him in New Orleans. But so why didn't the Broncos sign him this last offseason when they had the chance? He was, I think he signed for $3 million this last year with Philadelphia, if memory serves me correctly. And 3.5 million, excuse me. And the Broncos signed Cody Barton for roughly the same amount. So I don't know, I don't understand that. Why wouldn't they go after him? He played special teams and they brought in Barton to potentially raise the floor on special teams, right?

So I don't know, very odd. Martin hardly played it too. And exactly. So, yeah, in terms of the perfect ideal fit in free agency, I mean, to me, I would go to Nick Bolton of the Kansas City Chiefs and steal a guy from your division rivals, a player who's played in big games. I think Nick Bolton already has like 70-some-odd playoff tackles or something like that. He's only 25 years old.

It's kind of a crazy stat for him. But I would love to see a guy like that come in, a guy who's hard-nosed, tough against the run. We know that, I mean, Steve Spagnola likes to blitz. Vance Joseph likes to blitz. Nick Bolton is used to that kind of stuff. So I don't know. To me, Cody, I wonder your thoughts on this. Are you looking more at guys that fit?

the Vance Joseph scheme, or are you looking more so for a differential in traits? Because is it a traits issue that the Broncos had at the offball linebacker position that was lacking for them this last year? Yeah, I think it was a traits issue, to be honest with you. I mean, I think you look at the really, really good NFL defenses, we'll go back to the Buffalo Bills, we'll even go back to the Baltimore Ravens, we'll go back to Kansas City. They had really good athletic linebackers that can play sideline to sideline. that when you're asking them to drop back in a pass cover,

just not one-on-one, but it's, hey, can you drop, can you get from your depth where you're at, reading guard, whether it's run or pass? And if it's passed, can you read it quickly? And can you get to 15 yards depth in the middle of the field just like that? Can you locate guys that I think is going to be the thing? Zach Bond probably is the best overall traits fit here for the Broncos that would elevate them in that regard.

I don't know if Nick Bolton would necessarily be to that level in which Bond would be. But then there's also another former Kansas City Chief. if you played for the New Orleans Saints this year, Willie Gaye Jr. Might be an interesting name to watch as well in terms of where the Broncos are at. And look, for me, I like the idea of stealing guys from, you know, teams that you play in your division. Look, the Broncos did that.

Sean Payton did it with Michael Burton. Obviously, they had ties of formerly, you know, coaching and playing together regardless. But you can maybe get a little bit of a boost. You can get some insights to, okay, what is it that they do over there? You maybe get some of that secret sauce there. But for me, Bonn is the best overall fit. right now. I think Devin Bush might be an under the radar type of name here, obviously a former first round pick. And the reason I bring up Devin Bush, you go back to his time at the Pittsburgh

Steelers, which obviously his time there, that was a really, really good defense. And the Broncos, ironically enough, remember all the mock drafts that had Devin Bush to Denver initially, Denver then traded back with the Steelers. They moved to 19th or 20th. They took no offense then because the Steelers who moved up, what was it, to 12th at that point, took Devin Bush there. So for me, look at a guy who's got the athleticism, the ranging is to be able to do that. Devin Bush might be that not the big signing, but like the, you know, for Philadelphia, what Zach Bond was for them in a sense like, hey, it's a, you know, probably a one year deal, maybe a two year deal and you bring him in. It's not going to cost you a lot. And it might be one like, hey, this guy might surprise some

people. That's the path I could see if Denver goes there. Aside from all that, I was looking at all the available freedom. So over there on spot track and nothing else really made sense out of Bonn, Willie Gaye Jr. You know, Nick Bolton and obviously at Devin Bush. There was nobody else that really stood out to me. Yeah, you look up and down the list. I think that a lot of times fans are going to be looking at, okay, who's going to be that premier free agent acquisition, right?

Whereas a guy like Zach Bonn was signed, like we said, for $3.5 million last year. So maybe this is a situation where you kind of look deeper down the list that guys like Devin Bush, guys like Willie Gay Jr., players like that, or maybe it's somebody like, Jamie and Sherwood, who played 93% of the snaps, only 25 years old coming from the New York Jets, where they're obviously changing a lot and going forward there. So I don't know, maybe you look at some of those types of players, and Ernest Jones, who has traded a couple of times last year. He could be somebody that you could work with.

I just like the idea of going a little bit younger because the Broncos kind of set themselves up with the Cody Barton acquisitions. Alex Singleton will be 32 this year. I mean, getting guys that are in their later 20s is not necessarily. a bad situation by any means, but I would love to see a maybe more longer term approach to this position, which is why I kind of think you start considering the bigger money investments. I still think that there's a chance. You go after a multi-year deal on a guy like Willie Gay, maybe Nick Bolton is the premier edition.

I think the Broncos need two guys here, Cody. I really do. I don't know what the vision is for Drew Sanders or Alex Singleton going forward. I think the Broncos need to sign two guys here. and I don't think they bring back Cody Barton or Justin's not unless it's strictly for special teams. Yeah, and we'll see how it all goes to. But I mean, to your point right now, this is probably inside linebacker has to be the most questionable position right now on the roster because of Singleton coming off the injury. He's running now, which is obviously a great sign for him.

But we don't know who or what Drew Sanders really is yet. And obviously, I'm hoping, I'm hoping to be at the NFL scouting combine this year. We'll see if I get sent out there. But the thing that I'm really wondering, you know, that I'd love to have, I'd love to. to ask George Peyton, Sean Peyton or her. Somebody hopefully can ask this is what is the vision now with Drew Sanders after, you know, he switched from off ball to edge in his first year.

And they switched from edge to off ball back in a second year. And it's just like, all right, how much moving around can you do with the player before that player starts to, like, lose a little bit of confidence because you're making, you're going from all these changes like that. You're throwing so much at them. And what they have to learn at edge is different than what they have to learn at offball linebacker. So what is the vision for inside linebacker?

I know they probably won't go too depth, I mean, too deep into the details there with it. But that is, I think, one of the bigger questions here this off season. I think it'll be easier for them to address running back and tight end than it will be for them to address inside linebacker. And that to me, I think, is where my biggest concern lies with this off season. 100%. And you want to identify guys that can be a fit not only for Vance Joseph, but what if you're planning on him getting a head coaching gig after this year? Like, I think you need to have guys that are kind of not necessarily going to be able to play multiple different schemes because who knows if it's Jim Leonard who takes over, for instance, who knows how different

it would truly be stylistically or in terms of how he calls a defense. But you want to make sure that you, again, I don't think you want this to be an issue again next off season, right? It's the situation with inside linebacker. And so that's where I would say make a long-term play here. Take a dart throw on somebody who's super athletic like Willie Gaye Jr. We know he's, I mean, he's got some big time speed. Hopefully I'd have to look at the snap. Cody, but hopefully he played some for Darren Rizzy this past year and knows a little bit about how he wants to operate special teams as well. But I would just be going for athletic upside. I would be going for guys that could play with range, instincts, physicality. That is what I feel

like the Broncos were missing this past year in spades over the course of the season. And so I think it's one of those position groups that I would say, hey, no more Band-Aid fixes. Let's go after some maybe long-term options at this spot. I'm with you there in Broncos, We're eager for your thoughts, as always here on today's episode, Lockdown, Broncos. Make sure you let us know your thoughts on the best free agency fit at linebacker. Obviously, doing what you think the Broncos best approach to the NFL draft is here in the first couple of rounds. And also, whether or not a veteran free agent acquisition will help with Bo Nix's development, whether it can accelerate it or not here in 2025 of Morocco's country.

That'll wrap up today's episode of the show. For all you every day, or here's what you can expect the rest of the week. We've got an NFL squad show for you that's also coming up. but we're going to debate what, you know, what the biggest needs are for some of the teams around the NFL, some of the biggest storylines following the Super Bowl aftermath with the Eagles win there. But then on top of that, you're going to get another episode of Lockdown Broncos to round out the week. And hopefully we'll have some coaching news for you. Maybe the Broncos will make some headway on a potential special teams coordinator hired.

Darren Rizzy could, in fact, become the Broncos special teams coordinator very, very quick. We'll break all that down and much more on tomorrow's episode, Lockdown Broncos.