John Elway didn't win executive of the year in 2012, that award went to Colts GM, Ryan Grigson. However, John Elway has quickly established himself as one of the top GM's in football. Elway's first year on the job he landed Von Miller, arguably the best player in the draft. Year two, simply lured the highest profile free agent in NFL history, living legend Peyton Manning. Now for year three in Elway's reign, what was expected? The expectations for the Broncos in free agency for the 2013 season was widely thought to be "steady and nothing flashy". All Elway did was land the highest profile free agent for the second year in a row, Wes Welker.
Let's take a look into the Broncos signings 6 days in:
Wes Welker (WR)
Louis Vasquez (G)
Terrance Knighton (DT)
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB)
Stewart Bradley (LB)
Elway also re-signed DT starter, Kevin Vickerson and special teams beast, David Bruton.
Stewart Bradley was once a pro bowl LB. If he can stay healthy it's possible he will be the starting MLB instead of Nate Irving or possibly an upcoming draft pick. Plus, Elway was able to pick him up dirt cheap, $1.1 million for 1 year.
Terrance Knighton at 335 lbs. will be able to push the pocket and stuff the run effectively with Kevin Vickerson. He will rotate with Derek Wolfe and is an upgrade from Justin Bannan.
DRC had a rough stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. But when he was in Arizona he was a Pro Bowl CB. DRC was a first round pick, 16th overall in 2008. He is still very young, 26, and with Champ Bailey opposite him, one can only imagine how much better he will get.
Louis Vasquez is probably the Broncos best free agent pick up. He may not be the most "flashy" signing, that would go to Wes Welker, but Vasquez unlike the other signings received a long term deal, 4 years $23.5 million. Vasquez is expected to replace RG Chris Kuper, who has struggled with severe injuries recently. Louis Vasquez was considered the second best Guard by most NFL executives behind Andy Levitre. It makes it even better that Elway was able to weaken a divisional opponent, the Chargers, with the signing. Running the ball will be much more effective with Vasquez (335 lbs.) and Franklin (330 lbs.) paving the way on the right side.
Wes Welker is a slot machine. If you go by production it is easy to suggest Welker is the best slot receiver to ever play the game. Yes, Broncos fans...even better than the warrior Brandon Stokley. Welker has 111 receptions or more in 5 of the past 6 seasons. Welker's career high in receptions is 123 in 2009, oh by the way, that was in only 14 games. Only once in Broncos history has a WR caught more than 111 passes, that was Rod Smtih in 2001 when he had 113. Welker's production is even tough to produce in a full season playing Madden 13 on Xbox, it's crazy. Welker is also durable. In his 8 year career he has missed a total of 3 games. Welker will have the ability to work the middle of the field with DT and Decker alongside him, and a solid group of TE's in Tamme, Dressen, and Virgil Green. Peyton Manning has a shiny new toy to play with and my guess is it's going to be a match made in football heaven.
Oh and by the way, Elway not only wanted Welker to be a Bronco, but he also wanted to weaken the Patriots. Smart. He knew Brady wanted Welker back, that was why he restructured his contract.... oops.
As for Elvis Dumerville....well this turned into a mess due to an unbelievable error made by the "Dumerville camp". Elway is upset....no he is more than upset... he is raging mad. Elway is a business man, he made a trillion dollars on car dealerships, he doesn't like to lose money....he hates dead money. That is exactly what releasing Elvis Dumerville did, it put $4.8 million in "dead money" against the 2013 salary cap. So can Elway fix this? Does Elway even want to? I don't know, but I hope so. It is a good sign that Elvis has new representation, Tom Condon, who also represents Peyton Manning (maybe I am reaching, wishful thinking perhaps). Anyway, if Elway can clean this up and sign Dumerville back to the Broncos somehow, then just give him the 2013 Executive of the Year right now, we don't need to see what happens in the draft....it's a rap.
John Elway was one of the best Quarterback to ever play the game, my personal favorite. When he took the Broncos front office job in 2011 I thought he just wanted back in the building to get rid of the nasty stench that was Josh McDaniels. Maybe John would have a tee time at 9:00, go to lunch at Shannahan's, come in to Dove Valley to talk with Pat Bowlen and Brian Xanders about football operations, head over to Del Frisco's for a steak and a scotch, and head home before 8:00.
Well that didn't happen, the man is dedicated beyond belief. Not only that, but he is good, damn good. He is perhaps the best recruiter in the NFL. Who has the reputation Elway has? Who demands more respect than Elway in front offices? Nobody.
The 2012 Executive of the Year winner Ryan Grigson was a nice story. Rookie QB making the playoffs after a 2-14 season, coach battling life threatening cancer, young players stepping up in big time situations....I get it, I really do, but Elway was robbed last year.
It won't happen again this year.
I think the Broncos' 2012 draft class really hurt Elway's chances. Probably unfairly when compared to Grigson. Anyone would have a bit of an advantage when a guy like Andrew Luck falls in your lap, although I think if you take Luck out of the equation, Grigson's class still was probably better than Elway's. Despite the great moves in free agency so far this offseason, I think a lot will depend on what kind of impact guys Elway can find in the draft this time around.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what Elway does in the draft. I am half way kidding when I say the draft doesn't matter for Elway to get 2013 Executive of the Year. It takes 2 or 3 years before we will know how bad or good any of Elway's draft classes will be. I think getting Elvis back would be a huge step in the right direction.
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