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Newly hired general manager George Paton quickly worked with the Denver Broncos, cutting off AJ Bouye and Jurrell Casey and saving over $ 23 million in the process.
He’s not finished yet, and more heads are expected to roll. Here are the three people most likely to be looking for a new team.
3. Nick Vannett
Don’t let Nick Vannett being ranked third on this list fool you into thinking he will likely stick around in 2020. He could easily have ended up in second place for this drill, and those three players are very likely. be gone in the near future.
Of all the Denver non-starters, Vannett easily has the highest amount of cap savings after cutting $ 2.68 million before June 1. He was also a disappointing player for the team last season and was quickly overtaken by rookie Albert Okwuegbunam on the depths board, although a torn ACL got Vannett back.
The only reasons Vannett is sticking around is that the Broncos need a tight blocking end – which is a role Vannett currently fulfills – and it can be surprisingly difficult to find a cheap, instant impact replacement. at the tight end.
With Noah Fant and Okwuegbunam, the Broncos have two very talented tight ends that both are struggling to block. They need someone like Vannett to take on some of that load, so if they replace him it’ll be with a tight end that can be on the pitch in Week 1.
This is a hindrance as Vannett’s cheapest replacements will be the rookies, and the tight rookies are known for their long period of adaptation from college to the NFL. If Denver chooses to go the veteran route instead, they probably won’t save a lot of money.
2. DaeSean Hamilton
It feels like DaeSean Hamilton has been a “likely downsizing / trading candidate” for over a year now.
After a very disappointing 2019 campaign, it appeared the writing was on the wall for Hamilton. This was especially true after the Broncos used each of their top two picks on wide receivers, as well as a seventh-round selection.
He managed to survive the shortened training camp and hold on to a roster spot throughout the season. However, during the season he did little to improve his position in the organization despite having two struggling rookie receivers and a season-long superstar above him on the depth graph.
Hamilton finished 2020 with just 23 receptions for 293 yards and one scoring. Meanwhile, that aforementioned seventh-round pick Tyrie Cleveland shone in his limited playing time.
Hamilton’s precision as a road runner and willpower as a race blocker might be enough to say Vannett deserves to be ranked here instead, but finding an impact rookie catcher is much easier to find. instant than to find a tight instant impact rookie. finish. Especially in this year’s class.
Plus, the savings from downsizing Hamilton ($ 2.18 million) rank seventh on the team.
1. Jeff Driskel
Why on earth would you bring Jeff Driskel back for another season if you’re Paton?
Without even delving into Driskel’s disappointing game, the proposal to hold him back seems dubious.
The Broncos are expected to save $ 2.5 million by parting ways with Driskel, an amount topped only by Von Miller ($ 18 million), Kareem Jackson ($ 10 million), Bryce Callahan ($ 6.8 million) and Vannett. It’s not a difference factor like the over $ 20 million the Broncos saved by removing AJ Bouye and Jurrell Casey, but it’s still a good change, especially compared to other potential savings on the roster. .
Unlike Miller, Jackson and Callahan, Driskel is not a star player who is integral to the team’s performance on one side of the ball. In fact, he arguably couldn’t be further from stardom as a substitute who was overshadowed by a member of the practice squad – Brett Rypien – when asked to step up.
There is the real obstacle for Driskel’s future with the team. He is currently the third best quarterback for a team looking to improve their starter at the post, and definitely interested in finding a new backup to mentor.
It’s hard to hold onto a fourth-string quarterback when you can save $ 2.5 million by cutting it.
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