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Home , Case Keenum, Deandre Baker, Devin Funchess, Dexter Lawrence, Jamison Crowder, Jay Gruden

Why believes is the right QB for the Broncos: “He’s got a chip on his shoulder.” By Mark Kiszla Denver Post March 14, 2019

Maybe every gunslinger eventually grows gun shy. But in the reboot of the Broncos, when a struggling football team cries out for bold moves, has John Elway lost the nerve to pull the trigger?

While Odell Beckham Jr. and have stolen the headlines in the NFL’s silly season, it feels as if Elway has sat on the porch instead of taking his best shot. What passes for big news in Denver is Joe Flacco and Ja’Wuan James? Please, tell me that is not the plan for returning the Broncos to the discussion, because it won’t do the trick.

Drink the Kool-Aid until your tongue turns orange, and maybe your vision grows blurry enough to regard Elway’s moves as grounded in tried-and-true football logic. I’m not bashful about saying: New coach Vic Fangio is a rock-solid football man.

But let’s keep it real. The Broncos are not only a bad team, what they’re doing to fix it is boring. Any way you cut it, Fangio has more in common with John Fox than Sean McVay. That’s not innovation. Since when did Elway, the old comeback kid, go conservative on us?

Flacco is an average Joe, and has been for a long time. Apologists in Broncos Country, however, rationalize the wisdom of trading for Flacco instead of pursuing Foles like this: Flacco will be cheaper to jettison if this turns out to be another failed experiment for Denver.

“I think we’re getting Flacco at the right time,” said Elway, attracted to a 34-year-old quarterback that wants to prove he’s not done yet. “He’s got a chip on his shoulder.”

In nine starts for the Ravens before being replaced by rookie last year, Flacco fashioned a very pedestrian quarterback rating of 84.2, which ranked him 28th in , only one slot of Case Keenum (81.2 QB rating), dumped as Denver’s starter.

But Elway explained why he thinks Flacco is the right quarterback right now for the Broncos.

“Even though he hasn’t had all the flashy stats lately, the best year he had was when he was with , when Gary was there (as Baltimore’s in 2014). This is pretty much the same offensive system in Denver, except it has evolved.”

If Kubiak is a big reason why Flacco is here, then the fingerprints of Gary remain all over this team, even though he has departed for a job with the . Does that make sense?

Pardon me for viewing Flacco as Keenum 2.0, a stopgap measure allowing Elway to search for a true franchise QB. But the Broncos won’t trade up in the draft for Heisman winner , because he’s short and needs to play in the shotgun? Sorry, that seems to be a short-sighted mentality.

The addition of Kareem Jackson was money well spent, because he brings both strong tackling and useful versatility to the secondary, although adding a player that soon turns 31 years old seems more like a temporary patch than a true rebirth of the No-Fly Zone. Meanwhile, in the AFC West, the Raiders swung for the fences by gambling on the immense talent of receiver Antonio Brown. And the Chiefs, in desperate need of an upgrade their defense, signed a combo defensive back in , who is four years younger than Jackson.

But the real head-scratcher for the Broncos is the $12.75 million salary they gave James to make us forget all the errors Elway has committed in his search for a to keep the peace on the right side of the offensive line. James is one ridiculously expensive Band-Aid. He is a former first-round draft choice of the Dolphins that has never made the , yet Denver gave him stupid money, making James the league’s highest-paid right tackle. I thought offensive line coach Mike Munchak was hired to develop young draftees rather than fix overpaid free agents. Silly me.

Yes, NFL free agency was created as a market place for “Get out of Jail” cards, and it’s never cheap to fill roster holes. But whether buying a house, a bottle of bourbon or a right tackle, it’s seldom good business to overpay for average. An overheated market always favors the seller, so if you’re going to pay a premium, it better be for such Grade-A quality that price proves to be no object.

For example: The signature move of Elway’s front-office tenure was gambling on a broken-down quarterback, backed with a $58 million guarantee could rediscover the Hall of Famer inside him. It was big. It was bold. It was very Elway.

And it worked. I miss that swashbuckling general manager, don’t you?

Now, we still trust Elway hasn’t lost his fastball. Deep down, No. 7 hasn’t forgotten what it takes to win and hates losing as much as ever.

Losing, however, does take its toll. Go 11-21 over two seasons, and doubt can creep in. It can turn a general manager who has won a Lombardi trophy painfully conservative in his ninth year on this stressful job.

At a time when the peeps demand instant grades on personnel moves, let’s remember Elway can still score big extra credit points in the draft. For now, let’s give this grade for the offseason moves: B. That B is for boring. And that’s bad.

What Elway has done thus far to reshape his roster hasn’t moved the needle or moved the team any closer to first place in the division.

I recall back in the day, when Denver was a destination city for top-flight NFL players and Cleveland was the league laughingstock. Well, now the Browns have , OBJ and better odds of making the Super Bowl than the Broncos. Cleveland is 15/1 to win the championship. Denver? 50/1.

At least we still have better mountains.

Joe Flacco and the make it official. “He’s got the veteran moxie and the determination of losing his job.” By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 14, 2019

One month after the Broncos reached an agreement with the to acquire quarterback Joe Flacco, the trade became official Wednesday upon the start of the NFL’s signing/trading season.

The Broncos gave Baltimore the fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. The Broncos still have a fourth- round selection they acquired from Houston for receiver .

Flacco, 34, becomes the third projected Week 1 starter in as many years for the Broncos. He will make $18.5 million in 2019 but has no guaranteed money on a contract that runs through 2021.

Flacco became available when the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in last year’s first round and kept him in the starting spot after Flacco’s mid-season injury.

Flacco replaces Case Keenum, who was traded to the Washington Redskins, and represents another kick at the quarterback can for general manager John Elway.

“I’m excited about the answer I got and about what we’re going to do offensively,” Elway told The Denver Post.

Elway, his personnel staff, new coach Vic Fangio and new offensive coordinator identified Flacco as the best available option during extensive meetings in January-February.

“He can throw the ball anywhere and he’s got a deep ball,” Elway told The Post. “And he’s better athletically than people think he is.”

Flacco visited the Broncos’ headquarters last month for a physical and to briefly meet with team personnel. He will be introduced at a press conference on Friday.

In an interview with the Broncos’ website, Elway said of Flacco: “We thought with what we’re going to do offensively, he would be a very good fit for us. We thought the compensation was good so we’re excited about watching Joe and having him in here.”

Improving the offensive line remains a critical work-in-progress to give Flacco the best chance to succeed. The Broncos agreed to terms with new right tackle Ja’Wuan James on Wednesday.

“If we protect (Flacco) and do a good job of that, he’ll make the right decisions,” Elway said.

A first-round pick out Delaware in 2008, Flacco has a 96-67 regular season record and a 10-5 playoff record. Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in the 2012-13 season that included an overtime victory in the AFC Divisional round over the Broncos at Mile High.

In his career, Flacco has 221 and 136 in the regular season and 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the playoffs.

“He’s been a productive quarterback his entire career,” Fangio said on the Broncos’ website. “He still has arm strength, which has always been a big thing for him.”

After the Ravens’ season ended with a wild-card round home loss to the Chargers, coach acknowledged that the team was moving forward with Jackson but also had high praise for Flacco.

“Joe can throw the football,” Harbaugh, who arrived with Flacco in Baltimore in 2008, told reporters. “He’s a big, strong quarterback. He’s moving much better than he was in ’15, after the injury in ’16 and even ’17. Joe’s ready to roll. You protect Joe, give him some weapons out there (and) you’re going to see one of the best in the league.”

Flacco has the confidence of his former coach and new general manager, but his numbers should raise concern about whether he can regain the form of early in his career.

Among the 30 quarterbacks with at least 1,000 pass attempts since 2015, Flacco is:

Second-to-last in (82.7), Tied for eighth-most with 46 interceptions, Twenty-fourth with 64 passes, And 14th in completion percentage (63.9). Flacco sustained a torn ACL/MCL in 2015 and a hip injury last year, when he completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,465 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He had 14 completions of at least 25 yards.

A key component of why the Broncos were interested in Flacco was his comfort level under center.

Per STATS, Inc., Flacco was 114 of 182 for 1,240 yards, with six touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2017 on attempts from under center. Last year, he was 48 of 74 for 595 yards (64.9 completion rate). A staple of Scangarello’s offense is having the quarterback under center and running play action.

The Broncos should expect to get a motivated player eager to prove he still has many years of productive football left.

“He’s got the veteran moxie and the determination of losing his job and not getting a chance to play again,” said Charles Davis, an analyst for NFL Network and FOX. “The Broncos, as they are constituted on offense, is similar to Baltimore, which I think fits him really well. It’s run the ball, throw off play action and find some guys downfield. The good thing is he walks in with a Super Bowl ring and a Super Bowl MVP.”

Flacco will be working with newbies at (Fangio), play-caller (Scangarello), quarterbacks coach (T.C. McCartney) and young players all over the skill position depth chart.

“He better be (ready to lead),” Davis said of Flacco. “He’s a big help with the experience he has and he’ll probably relish that role.”

Broncos announce contract agreements with Kareem Jackson, Ja’Wuan James By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 14, 2019

In addition to completing a trade for quarterback Joe Flacco on Wednesday, the Broncos officially agreed to terms with Kareem Jackson and right tackle Ja’Wuan James and traded quarterback Case Keenum to the Washington Redskins.

Jackson (a three-year contract worth $33 million) and James (a four-year contract worth $51 million) will be introduced along with Flacco at a press conference on Friday, a day later than expected because of a storm in the Denver area.

“We’ve got two good football players that we targeted and liked the way they played the game,” general manager John Elway said in an interview on the Broncos’ website. “Kareem, the (physicality) he brings to the defensive side and the athleticism Ja’Wuan has on the right side — they’re both fits for us.”

Jackson brings experience (132 games), production (559 tackles) and versatility (cornerback/safety) to the Broncos’ defense.

“He can play corner, safety, nickel — we’ll use him where we most need him or it best fits him,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said.

James became the league’s highest-paid right tackle when he agreed to join the Broncos after five years with Miami.

“We think he’s a perfect system fit for us,” Elway said. “We really think he can solidify right tackle. That’s our expectation.”

Keenum was flipped to the Redskins along with a 2020 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2020 sixth- round pick.

In a statement to the Redskins’ website, Keenum said: “Last year (with the Broncos) didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but I think it made me a better football player, it made me a better person (and it) made me tougher. And it taught me what it really means to have a team really count on your quarterback to make plays down the stretch when you really need to. It’s something I’m excited to grow from, something I’m excited to learn from and implement this next year with the Redskins.”

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Coach Jay Gruden said the Redskins have not ruled out drafting a quarterback to join Keenum and Colt McCoy on the roster.

NFL free agency winners and losers By Kyle Frederickson Denver Post March 14, 2019

The first wave of NFL free agency is in the books. Who came out on top? Here’s a breakdown of winners and losers after some the league’s biggest names found new homes.

Winners Browns: What a difference one year makes. The once aimless Browns are on a path toward AFC North contention with the surprise trade for Giants star Odell Beckham Jr., plus defensive help via trade (Giants edge rusher Olivier Vernon) and free agency (Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson). Cleveland is loaded with first-round picks up and down the roster. Will it finally translate to a playoff run?

Big-name safeties: Several top safeties received enormous contracts — (Ravens: Four years, $55 million); (Redskins: Six years, $84 million); Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs: Three years, $42 million); (Raiders: Four years, $42 million); and (Packers: Four years, $37 million).

Raiders: Wide receiver Antonio Brown bullied his way out of Pittsburgh via trade to join forces with quarterback in Oakland. The Raiders also spent big money on former Patriots left tackle Trent Brown in addition to Joyner at safety. And Oakland still holds three first-round draft picks. A positive push in coach ’s rebuilding project.

Nick Foles: The lone big-name quarterback on the market landed a mega deal (four years, $88 million) from the Jaguars despite little outside competition. Note that Jacksonville is not yet considered the winner in this deal. The Jaguars still need to build a strong supporting cast to regain their AFC Championship Game form of 2017.

Packers: Green Bay historically doesn’t make much of a splash in free agency, but things have changed dramatically in Year 2 under general manager Brian Gutekunst. The Packers bolstered their defense in a major way with three notable signings: Safety Adrian Amos (Bears) and outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith (Ravens) and Preston Smith (Redskins). You can bet quarterback appreciates some help on the other side of the football.

Losers Dolphins: Miami has no declared quarterback plan and also lost several players in free agency — running back Frank Gore (Bills), right tackle Ju’Wuan James (Broncos) and defensive end Cameron Wake (Titans). The Dolphins also cut wide receiver Danny Amendola, who signed with Detroit. Miami’s biggest move? Re-signing wide receiver DeVante Parker.

Le’Veon Bell: After turning down $14.5 million to play for the Steelers last season, Bell is set to make $13.1 million in 2019 as part of his four-year, $52.5 million contract with the Jets. Bell received the guaranteed money he sought ($35 million), but did not set the market at running back as many predicted while he sat out. But it’s still a fresh start with a budding quarterback in Sam Darnold.

Texans: Houston swapped talented players in their secondary with seemingly lesser replacements. Cornerback Kareem Jackson went to Denver while the Broncos aren’t sad to see get a new shot in Houston. Former Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu signed with Kansas City and Houston scooped up Tashaun Gipson from Jacksonville.

Steelers: Pittsburgh said goodbye to its top two offensive weapons in Bell and Brown. The worst part is how little the Steelers got back. For Bell, nothing. For Brown, 2019 third- and fifth-round draft picks. Not much of a haul.

Giants: New York signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a five-year, $90 million extension in August only to trade him to Cleveland seven months later for little return: First- and third-round picks from Cleveland, plus Browns safety . The Giants’ decision not to place the franchise tag on safety Landon Collins, allowing him to leave for the Redskins, will also be highly scrutinized.

Elway, Fangio officially have Flacco as their quarterback By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 14, 2019

It’s permissible for Broncos bosses to now talk about Joe Flacco as their quarterback.

It’s just going to take another day before Flacco can step foot in Denver as the Broncos’ starting quarterback.

The white-out blizzard that pulverized the Denver-area Wednesday was strong enough to cancel the Thursday flights into town for Flacco and Broncos’ new free-agent acquisitions Kareem Jackson and Ja’Wuan James.

They’ve been re-booked for a Friday arrival. Broncos’ general manager John Elway and head coach Vic Fangio were around, though. They arrived at their offices before the rain turned to snow Wednesday morning, and they were still there long after the 2019 NFL league season officially opened at 2 p.m.

Like clockwork, Flacco was officially traded from Baltimore to the Broncos at the 2 p.m. strike while Case Keenum, Denver’s starting quarterback last year, was shipped off to Washington in a separate trade.

Why Flacco instead of Keenum?

“Well, it’s hard,’’ Elway said in an interview with 9News. “We looked at what we want to do offensively - - try to get the ball downfield. And the availability of Joe and the success he’s had as a starter and in the playoffs, he won a Super Bowl, he’s been a starter for a long time.

“He’s only 34 years old so we think he has a lot of football ahead of him. I thought he would be a perfect fit for us.

“Case played very well for us, too, but we had to make a decision and we decided to go with Joe with what the compensation was.’’

As previously reported, the Broncos surrendered the first of their two fourth-round draft picks to Baltimore for Flacco.

“He’s productive and he’s been a winning quarterback,’’ Fangio said in his interview with 9News. “I don’t know that you need to say much more than that. He’s always possessed a very strong arm. He’s got good touch on the ball; his ball is very catchable. He’s got good anticipation. He’s got a coolness to him to where the situation isn’t too big for him. He doesn’t get flustered. I just like his overall demeanor, besides his physical qualities.’’

Outside Broncos headquarters, the Flacco had its critics. In his nine full seasons, his average record as a starting quarterback is 10-6. But his career passer rating of 84.1 by and large ranks in the bottom five of NFL quarterbacks. He had an 84.2 rating last year that ranked 28th – just ahead of 29th-ranked Keenum’s 81.2 rating.

Then again, Elway never was much on stats. He finished his quarterback career with a 79.9 rating that ranks 75th all time. Yet, his .645 career winning percentage ranks No. 4.

“The one stat that matters – has he won?’’ Elway said. “And he has won. He’s been to the Super Bowl, he’s won one. If you look at his playoff record, what he’s done on the road. He’s won seven (playoff games) on the road and that’s always hard to do. Joe might not be the flashiest guy, but he’s been very successful, and I think he’ll be very successful with us, too.’’

Elway also said experience of playing under center in the Rich Scangarello offense was one reason why the Broncos favored Flacco as opposed to another available quarterback, Nick Foles.

“There’s no question,’’ Elway said. “We’re going to play underneath the center and try to run the ball and play-action and try to get some chunk plays down field. That’s one of Joe’s strengths. He’s got a very strong arm. He’s accurate. The combination of that, his experience being underneath, his ability to see downfield are all reasons why we’re glad he’s here.”

Elway not concerned about interior offensive line without Paradis By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 14, 2019

Matt Paradis is gone.

The Broncos expressed interest in ’ center Mitch Morris before dropping out when Buffalo drove up the price tag.

Gary Kubiak lured versatile offensive lineman Billy Turner to Minnesota with a $7 million-a-year deal.

And the Broncos’ one-year, low-rate offer to Paradis didn’t come close to stopping the center from taking his ankle rehab to Carolina.

Is Broncos’ general manager concerned about the interior of his offensive line?

“We feel good with Connor at center,’’ Elway said in an interview Wednesday with 9NEWS. “Obviously Leary’s coming back at left guard and Eli Wilkinson’s at right guard. But we still have the draft and we still have a lot of time before the start of the year.

“We’ll always continue to try to upgrade. Is it a concern? No. We’re not concerned about it. We feel like we’ll continue to get better there.’’

The Broncos’ offensive line from left to right is Garett Bolles, a first-round pick entering his third season, at left tackle; the Achilles injured Ron Leary at left guard; Connor McGovern at center; Elijah Wilkinson at right guard and freshly signed $17 million man Ja’Wuan James at right tackle.

Sam Jones, a 6th-round draft pick from Highlands Ranch, will compete for an interior job, as will Nico Falah and Austin Schlottmann.

Broncos begin rebuilding O-line in free agency By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press March 14, 2019

John Elway cycles through quarterbacks and head coaches at a dizzying rate. Yet, what's really an annual rite of spring in Denver is his shuffling of the Broncos' offensive line.

After hiring his fourth head coach in six seasons and swapping out quarterbacks again this offseason, the Broncos general manager targeted Ja'Wuan James in free agency, luring the ex-Dolphins lineman with a four-year deal worth up to $51 million, making him the NFL's highest-paid right tackle.

James' arrival coincides with the departure of two of Denver's own free agents, center Matt Paradis to the Panthers (three years, $27 million) and swing tackle Billy Turner to the Packers (four years, $29.5 million).

Elway also filled another dire need, striking a three-year, $33 million deal with ex-Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson in the negotiating window before the league's new year began Wednesday.

Jackson replaces Bradley Roby, a former first-round pick who agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Houston after an awful first season as a starter in Denver last year following Aqib Talib's trade to the Rams.

Jackson is the kind of sure tackler and hard hitter that new head coach Vic Fangio favors, and James is a player the Broncos coveted for new O-line coach Mike Munchak. James also played under new assistant O-line coach Chris Kuper for the last three years in Miami.

James, who has missed major portions of the season with injuries in two of the last four years, replaces Jared Veldheer, last year's veteran fix at right tackle, in a line protecting Joe Flacco, Elway's seventh quarterback since Peyton Manning's retirement three years ago.

With the strongest snowstorm in Colorado since at least 1950 closing airports and highways, the Broncos pushed back introductory news conferences for their new players until Friday.

But Elway did sit down with Broncos TV to discuss his additions, saying, "We think Kareem and the physicality he brings to the defensive side and the athleticism that Ja'Wuan has at right tackle, they're both great fits for us."

NFL rules prohibited the Broncos from discussing Flacco's acquisition until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, and Elway told the NFL Network that at 34, Flacco's "arm strength is still great" and "he's just going into his prime."

Flacco fits Elway's quarterback profile: he's tall, plays under center and can throw the deep pass, as he proved in the playoffs in 2012 with that 70-yard touchdown heave to Jacoby Jones in the final minute of regulation in Baltimore's double-overtime win in Denver. The victory propelled the Ravens to a win in the Super Bowl.

Elway traded a fourth-round pick to Baltimore for Flacco, then shipped incumbent Case Keenum to Washington along with a 2020 seventh-rounder for a 2020 sixth-rounder in a pair of deals that became official Wednesday.

Keenum was a disappointment in Denver, going 6-10 after leading the Vikings to an 11-3 record and the NFC championship game in 2017. It wasn't all his fault, however — he lost his top receiver, two top tight ends and three O-line starters to injuries.

Elway has had a tough time building a solid offensive line.

Twice, he signed two veteran O-linemen only to watch them get hurt or fizzle out.

In 2016, he signed tackles Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson. The Broncos declined Okung's option after one middling season and Stephenson started 16 games over two seasons before his release. In 2017, the Broncos signed tackle Menelik Watson and guard Ronald Leary. Watson started seven games and was cut the following August, and Leary sustained a season-ending torn Achilles in Week 6 last season.

Elway's best O-line acquisition in free agency was guard Louis Vasquez in 2013. Vasquez was named All- Pro his first year in Denver and started 47 games over three seasons.

Elway has also selected at least one offensive lineman in each of his eight draft classes so far. His hits include Orlando Franklin and Paradis. Philip Blake and Vinston Painter were major misses and 2017 first- rounder Garett Bolles, who leads the league in holding calls over the last two seasons, is Munchak's major reclamation project this offseason.

The secondary also was a primary need for the Broncos, who released safety and had three who are unrestricted free agents and a fourth, Brandon Langley, who is switching to receiver.

Jackson was the most versatile cornerback on the open market. Although he'll turn 30 next month, he's coming off the best season of his nine-year NFL career, all in Houston. He posted 87 tackles, broke up 17 passes and forced two , all of which were career bests.

Fangio will pair him with star cornerback Chris Harris Jr., the last remaining member of the "No Fly Zone" secondary that was the backbone of the Broncos' team. Like Harris, Jackson is adept at playing outside or in the slot and has also lined up at safety.

John Elway, Vic Fangio bring in 'guys that we all liked' in first wave of free agency By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 14, 2019

Shortly after Head Coach Vic Fangio and members of his coaching staff evaluated cornerback Kareem Jackson prior to the start of free agency, Fangio headed down the hall to talk to John Elway.

Fangio wanted to make sure he expressed his interest in the veteran defensive back, whom the Broncos agreed to terms with Wednesday as Fangio kicked off his first free-agency period as a head coach.

“We got guys that we all liked,” Fangio said Wednesday. “I remember when we first watched Kareem Jackson, [I] walked in and told him we really liked him and he says, ‘Good, we do too.’

“Those are the kind you’re looking for, that everybody sees the same way.”

Fangio and Elway found several of those players as the new league year began and the Broncos started to put together their roster for 2019.

Denver agreed to terms with Jackson and former Dolphins right tackle Ja’Wuan James in free agency and traded for quarterback Joe Flacco on Wednesday.

“Well you never know how it’s going to play out, but we’re really excited about Ja’Wuan as well as Kareem,” Elway said. “I think that we got two good football players that we targeted and like the way they play the game, but also the type of people they are. So we think that Kareem and the [physicality] he brings to the defensive side and the athleticism Ja’Wuan has at right tackle, they’re both great fits for us.”

Those agreements only came after an evaluation process that involved both the front office and the coaching staff.

“We have to work together,” Elway said. “Coaching and personnel have to work together, because ultimately, they’ve got to like who they’re coaching and the people they have on the field. It’s important for us to all be a cohesive group there. So far, since Vic’s been here, it’s been tremendous.”

Fangio, who said evaluating a few offensive players is the only change to his normal free-agency routine, will soon get to work with the Broncos’ new additions. And there is at least one decision to be made.

Jackson, who played cornerback and safety during his final season with the Texans, doesn’t yet have a defined position.

“That’s yet to be determined,” Fangio said. “Once we get the team here and start working out — that’s one of his strong suits, he can play corner, safety, nickel — we’ll use him where we most need him or that best fits him.”

On the offensive side, Elway and Fangio see James as a player who could potentially fill a void at the right tackle position.

“Like I said, we think he’s a perfect system fit for us,” Elway said. “He’s had five great years down there in Miami, but [we] really think he can solidify that right tackle [position] and that’s our expectation.”

Added Fangio: “[He’s a] good athlete with length and size to him, and I like that he’s in the middle of his career. I think he’s got the chance to be a Bronco for a long time.”

Then, of course, there’s Flacco, who will lead the Broncos into the 2019 season.

“We had an opportunity there, and Joe’s had a great career so far,” Elway said. “We thought with what we’re going to do now offensively that he’d be a very good fit for us. So we’re excited about the opportunity to be able to get Joe here. We thought the compensation was good, so we’re excited about watching Joe and having him come here.”

Though the Broncos made the triad of big moves on Wednesday, free agency has only just begun.

There are more moves to be made, and the Broncos are likely not done adding new faces to their team.

“You kind of wait and see now,” Elway said. “As prices come down a little bit, you kind of see what’s available. Obviously we have some people that we’d still … like to sign, but we’ll just continue to work on those and see what comes of them the next week or so.”

Soon enough, Fangio could be walking back down the hall to talk with Elway about another player that has caught his eye.

And if the first wave was any indication, the interest will likely be reciprocated.

Broncos trade for quarterback Joe Flacco By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 14, 2019

After 11 years in Baltimore, Joe Flacco has a new team — and the Denver Broncos have a new starting quarterback.

Denver officially finalized a trade for Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco on Wednesday after a month of speculation. The Broncos will send a 2019 fourth-round pick — the 113th-overall selection — to Baltimore as compensation.

Flacco, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP, has thrown for 212 career touchdowns and more than 38,000 yards. He has won 106 career games, including postseason appearances.

He leaves Baltimore as the team’s all-time leader in every major passing category.

Flacco’s postseason numbers are perhaps the most impressive part of his resume.

He has a 10-5 career postseason record, the most postseason road wins in NFL history and during the 2012 season, he led the Ravens on a 4-0 postseason run in which he threw 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.

He was named Super Bowl MVP after a three-touchdown, zero- showing in Baltimore’s win over the .

After back-to-back losing seasons, the Broncos will now rely on Flacco to help the team return to the postseason. And there are reasons to believe the 2008 first-round draft pick can make that happen.

Though he was replaced last season in Baltimore by rookie Lamar Jackson, Flacco was on pace for one of his best seasons as a professional. Through nine weeks, Flacco completed 61.2 percent of his passes and threw for 2,465 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He then suffered a hip injury in Week 9 that sidelined him for four weeks, and the Ravens tabbed Jackson as the starter. Flacco was cleared late in the year but remained on the sideline as the team’s backup.

Flacco, though, has been available for much of his NFL career; he has started all 16 games in nine of his 11 seasons. Denver’s new quarterback has also largely avoided turnovers, which have plagued the Broncos over the last two seasons.

During his time in Baltimore, Flacco and the Ravens turned the ball over the sixth-fewest times in the NFL while winning the sixth-most games by a quarterback in that span.

The three-time AFC Offensive Player of the Week will now see if he can replicate his success in the Mile High City.

Broncos agree to terms with CB Kareem Jackson By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 14, 2019

The Broncos just got a little more versatile in the secondary.

Denver agreed to terms Wednesday on a three-year deal with cornerback Kareem Jackson, a 30-year-old veteran who showed positional versatility during the last of his nine seasons in Houston.

Jackson exclusively played cornerback until the 2018 season, when he moved to the safety position. Injuries at cornerback, though, pushed Jackson back to his previous position after four games.

During his nine years in Houston, Jackson tallied 16 interceptions, three touchdowns, five forced fumbles, 559 total tackles and 88 passes defensed.

At this year's NFL Combine, Head Coach Vic Fangio said it was non-negotiable for a player in his defense to be able to tackle. Jackson certainly has that ability.

In 2018, Jackson notched 87 tackles, 17 pass deflections, two interceptions and also recorded a pair of games with double-digit tackles.

Against the Broncos in Week 9, Jackson tallied four tackles and two passes defended — one of which came when he laid a hard hit on running back Phillip Lindsay.

Jackson was consistently available during his career with the Texans. The Alabama product missed just two games over the previous three seasons and has played in 132 of a possible 144 regular-season games during his career.

Broncos trade Case Keenum to Washington Redskins By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 14, 2019

The Broncos have traded quarterback Case Keenum and a 2020 seventh-round pick to the Washington Redskins for a 2020 sixth-round pick, the team announced Wednesday.

Keenum, whom the Broncos signed in free agency in 2018, started all 16 games for Denver last season and recorded a 6-10 record.

He finished the season with 18 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions and 3,890 yards. Keenum completed 62.3 percent of his passes last year.

The Broncos, though, acquired a new starting quarterback Wednesday when they traded for Baltimore’s Joe Flacco. President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway followed that move by sending Keenum to Washington for the late-round pick.

Broncos agree to terms with T Ja'Wuan James By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 14, 2019

The Broncos will have a new starting right tackle in 2019.

Denver has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with former Miami offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James, the team announced Wednesday.

A first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, James has started each of the 62 games in which he's appeared during his five-year career.

During his previous two seasons in Miami, he worked with the Broncos' Assistant Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper, who held the same role in Miami.

James was called for the fewest penalties of his career in 2018.

In Denver, James will be coached by Kuper and Offensive Line Coach Mike Munchak. The two coaches will aim to help James provide stability at a position that has seen consistent change over the past few years. Denver has featured a different starter at right tackle to begin each of the last four seasons.

James, who started 15 games in 2018, is 26 years old and was a member of the 2014 NFL All-Rookie Team.

NFL mock draft 2019: Odell Beckham Jr. trade, free agency moves alter first round By Nate Davis USA Today March 14, 2019

Free agency's plethora of moving parts will significantly impact the NFL draft landscape, which was indelibly altered this week when the Browns sent their first-round pick to the Giants as part of a package that brought superstar Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland.

Rest assured, fellow draftnik Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz will provide his next mock draft when the free agency dust (plus associated trades) has completely settled. But, for now, here's an updated version to my post-combine edition, factoring in the Browns' exit from Round 1 and some of the early aftereffects of veteran players who are switching mailing addresses.

1. Cardinals — Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: His pro day performance safely in the fairway, he appears like the choice — based both on his prodigious talent and ability to snugly plug into new Arizona coach 's Air Raid offense. If GM Steve Keim could pry a nice return for incumbent QB Josh Rosen, this franchise's rebuild could suddenly be well ahead of schedule.

2. 49ers — , DE, Ohio State: Even with former Chiefs OLB headed to the Bay, this still appears like an ideal fit for Bosa. The Niners are solid up the middle with DeForest Buckner but probably can't have enough athletic edge defenders in a division featuring and, potentially, Murray.

3. Jets — , DT, Alabama: Given they have no second-round pick, the NYJ could be open for business. But if they stick, no reason to overthink it. Highly regarded talents like DL Leonard Williams, S Jamal Adams and QB Sam Darnold "fell" into the Jets' laps in recent drafts. And pairing the Williamses together could be the ideal way to make Tom Brady miserable — unleash two terrors right up the gut.

4. Raiders — Josh Allen, OLB-DE, Kentucky: Oakland has already made a lot of noise on the personnel front. But the Raiders have yet to address perhaps their primary deficiency: a pass rush that collected a league-low 13 sacks in 2018 without . Allen has 31 sacks over the past three seasons, including 17 last year.

5. Buccaneers — , DE-OLB, Mississippi State: He showed too much size (6-6, 260 pounds) and speed (4.41 40-yard dash, a modern record for a defensive lineman) at the combine for Tampa Bay to pass — especially given the Bucs ranked 26th against the pass and surrendered the most points in the NFC.

6. Giants — , QB, Ohio State: The makeover is officially underway with OBJ leaving town. Haskins has long seemed like the right fit here, given the value of an apprenticeship under Eli Manning. And GM Dave Gettleman's decisions to part with Beckham and S Landon Collins seem like a strong indication that he's less interested in winning now than setting this franchise up for the future. The Giants spurned the chance to draft a passer in Round 1 last year, but that seems unlikely now.

7. Jaguars — , OT, Washington State: Nick Foles is headed to Jacksonville. Now? Gotta keep the not-so-fleet-footed quarterback upright. Dillard would be a good candidate for Foles' blind side while enabling the Jags to shift Cam Robinson, who's coming off a torn ACL, to the right side.

8. Lions — T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa: Clones are never as good as the source material, but Detroit coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn seem to be attempting to create the Motown Patriots. Hockenson isn't Gronk, but in the spirit of the apparent game plan ...

9. Bills — Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Buffalo has been busy putting fresh pieces around second-year QB Josh Allen. This would be a good spot to bolster the league's second-ranked defense, which currently doesn't have anyone who can penetrate up the middle like Oliver can.

10. Broncos — , ILB, LSU: Could they go quarterback again? Maybe, but 10th seems awfully rich given who's on the board and who just joined the roster (Joe Flacco). Why not give defensive- minded head coach Vic Fangio the type of linebacker he values — one who can swiftly flow to the ball.

11. Bengals — , DE, Michigan: New head coach might prefer somebody who can help the offense, but Gary is too good to bypass, especially with Michael Johnson gone.

12. Packers — , TE, Iowa: Might be Jimmy Graham 2.0 given his ability to be a gamebreaker downfield and his inability to be one in-line. But Green Bay has reloaded on defense the past few days but could still use another weapon for Aaron Rodgers.

13. Dolphins — , QB, Missouri: Probably going to be a veteran under center in Week 1, but Miami will need a young quarterback to build around amid its latest reboot.

14. Falcons — Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida: The release of RT Ryan Schraeder creates an opening for a line getting a face-lift. Taylor appears like a tailor-made right tackle who could help Atlanta re-establish its ground game.

15. Redskins — , WR, Oklahoma: The quicksilver cousin of Antonio Brown should be ready to go for training camp despite recent Lisfranc surgery. And with gone, Washington could use a dynamic slot threat given none of its current quarterbacks are well-equipped to strike deep.

16. Panthers — D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi: A much stronger, much faster version of former starter Devin Funchess, Metcalf doesn't need to run nifty routes to be a major asset for an offense that has so many players who do their best work in the short and intermediate parts of the field.

17. Giants (from Browns) — , DT, Mississippi State: He struck a woman while in high school and pleaded no contest to simple assault but was apparently a model citizen in Starkville. Last month, Simmons tore his ACL. He might be a top-five pick with a clean résumé, and that kind of value might be too good for Gettleman to pass up (even if Simmons' 6-4, 301-pound build isn't quite at Hog Molly specs) as he restocks New York's ailing defense.

18. Vikings — , OT, Alabama: Coach wants to run the ball and establish a tougher identity. Williams fits those priorities. His acquisition would likely mean last year's second- rounder, Brian O'Neill, would move to left tackle, leaving Williams and Riley Reiff to sort out who's best at guard and tackle in the wake of ' release.

19. Titans — , DT, Clemson: Excellent on the field and off, he's the kind of player with whom you lay a cultural foundation. Wilkins might need to get a bit stronger to hold up in some of Tennessee's varied looks, but and company will figure out how to maximize his estimable value.

20. Steelers — Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan: All of their recent drama on the offensive side — yes, , drama — has overshadowed the ongoing need for a defensive playmaker in the middle of the field post-Ryan Shazier.

21. Seahawks — Byron Murphy, CB, Washington: At 5-11 and a newly rocked-up 190 pounds, he still doesn't fit Seattle's corner prototype. But this overhauled secondary needs more firepower.

22. Ravens — Brian Burns, OLB-DE, Florida State: At 6-5 and 249 pounds (some of that weight very recently packed on), he doesn't have the anchor of Baltimore's model edge rusher. But with OLBs Terrell Suggs and Za'Darius Smith moving on, replenishing the position currently looms as a bigger priority than further recalibrating the offense for QB Lamar Jackson.

23. Texans — Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma: Houston allowed the most sacks in the league (62), and its running backs barely topped 4 yards per carry last year.

24. Raiders (from Bears) — , CB, Georgia: Oakland needs more beyond CB Gareon Conley in coverage, particularly in a division where the ball's in the air so often.

25. Eagles — , RB, Alabama: A violent runner who also catches the ball smoothly, he'd be a boon to a 28th-ranked running game that produced 91 yards total in Philly's two playoff games last season. And with Le'Veon Bell now off the market, this could be the way to go rather than signing an aging back.

26. Colts — , CB, LSU: Can't ever have enough speed or cover guys on your roster, and corner is an area where Indianapolis can improve even with Pierre Desir returning to the fold.

27. Raiders (from Cowboys) — Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama: The arrival of WR Antonio Brown revamps Oakland's passing game. But new GM Mike Mayock might want to snag a promising tight end here given QB Derek Carr's reliance on Jared Cook last season.

28. Chargers — , DT, Clemson: A virtual human roadblock, the Bolts could use his girth between DEs Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram with DT Corey Liuget now departed and Brandon Mebane turning 34.

29. Chiefs — , DE, Clemson: With Kansas City switching to a four-man front, just as Justin Houston and Ford are backing up the moving trucks, the need for pass rushers to refurbish new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's signature NASCAR packages is evident.

30. Packers (from Saints) — , S, Mississippi State: Green Bay has spent a lot of time adding defensive backs who can cover over the last year, former Bears S Adrian Amos in free agency being the latest example. But the Pack could still use an enforcer type to set a tone in the run game while making opponents think twice on crossing routes.

31. Rams — , C, North Carolina State: With C John Sullivan and LG Rodger Saffold gone, the NFC champs suddenly have two holes on their offensive line.

32. Patriots — , DL, Notre Dame: He's long (6-6, 295), strong, talented and smart. Sounds like a Patriot to me, especially with DE Trey Flowers headed to Detroit while and Malcom Brown are unsigned. Michael Bennett can't do it alone.

John Elway: Joe Flacco a “perfect fit” for what Broncos want to do By Charean Williams Pro Football Talk March 14, 2019

The Broncos trade for Joe Flacco became official Wednesday afternoon, though a blizzard delayed Flacco’s arrival to Denver.

The Broncos decided a trade for Flacco was preferable to another year with Case Keenum. Flacco becomes the fifth starter since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season.

“Well, it’s hard,’’ Elway said of picking Flacco over Keenum, via Mike Klis of 9News. “We looked at what we want to do offensively — try to get the ball downfield and the availability of Joe and the success he’s had as a starter and in the playoffs. He won a Super Bowl. He’s been a starter for a long time. He’s only 34 years old, so we think he has a lot of football ahead of him. I thought he would be a perfect fit for us.

“Case played very well for us, too, but we had to make a decision and we decided to go with Joe with what the compensation was.’’

The Broncos gave up the first of their two fourth-round draft picks for Flacco, who hasn’t won a postseason start since 2014 and is only 24-27 over the past four seasons. He has never made the Pro Bowl.

Flacco, though, does have a Super Bowl and five double-digit winning seasons.

“He’s productive, and he’s been a winning quarterback,’’ new coach Vic Fangio told Klis. “I don’t know that you need to say much more than that. He’s always possessed a very strong arm. He’s got good touch on the ball; his ball is very catchable. He’s got good anticipation. He’s got a coolness to him to where the situation isn’t too big for him. He doesn’t get flustered. I just like his overall demeanor, besides his physical qualities.’’

Joe Flacco officially traded to Broncos By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk March 14, 2019

The Joe Flacco era in Baltimore is officially over.

Flacco, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP, has been traded to the Broncos. The trade had already been agreed upon but only became official with the start of the league year.

Any time a player has won a Super Bowl MVP award, his tenure with his team has to be considered a success. But after the Ravens gave Flacco a huge contract following that Super Bowl, he never came particularly close to replicating that success.

Now the Broncos will hope Flacco can regain some of the old magic — and perhaps serve as a veteran mentor to a rookie quarterback.

Ravens bid fond farewell to Joe Flacco By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk March 14, 2019

The Ravens have shipped Joe Flacco out of town, but the town won’t forget him any time soon.

“Joe is the best quarterback in Ravens history,” Ravens G.M. Eric DeCosta said in a statement issued after the trade to the Broncos became official. “Not only is he talented, but he was clutch for us in the most difficult games against excellent defenses in the loudest and most raucous stadiums. The game and the moments were never too big for Joe. Honestly, he’s one of my favorite draft picks ever.”

Coach John Harbaugh offered up a specific prediction for Flacco’s future.

“Joe will be a Ring of Honor member soon after he retires,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “The big arm, the consistency, the toughness — Joe had it all. What separated him was his calm demeanor in the storm. He handled the chaos that comes with playing quarterback and was at his best for us in the fourth quarter.”

In recent years, Flacco’s best wasn’t good enough. That prompted the decision to draft Lamar Jackson in 2018, and it resulted in Flacco’s departure, 11 years after he was drafted and six years after he was named the MVP of the Super Bowl.