Denver Broncos Have To Like Their Chances Next Season With Roster Regaining Health

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Trindon Holliday (11) leads his teammates to the field for Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

In today’s National Football League, you can never predict where or how far your team will go in the playoffs. To defend the Denver Broncos, they made the Super Bowl with a lot of key starters and a couple of all-pro’s sidelined due to injury. Peyton Manning however would put the team on his record-holding back to defeat the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Round and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship; but couldn’t win the ultimate goal — the Lombardi Trophy.

Denver will have a key chance in the offseason to rebuild the secondary or add a middle linebacker so Wesley Woodyard can slide back to his normal position assuming Denver re-signs him. If you have not seen my latest Mock Draft, make sure to click on this link to see who I believe Denver might be looking at. Although the Broncos are in dire need of a true middle-linebacker, the secondary will be the top priority this offseason. Denver’s pass defense was atrocious even with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Chris Harris out there covering receivers. What that means it comes down to the middle linebackers or safety’s that happen to be out of position. Safety play was a bit of an issue this season which was depleted with the loss of Rahim Moore.

If the Broncos look to sign a safety through free-agency, Jairus Byrd of the Buffalo Bills could be a potential suitor. Byrd is just 27-years-old and has made the Pro Bowl three times throughout his career. Byrd would play in just 11 games last season as he recorded 37 tackles, 6 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions. Denver reportedly said Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is their top priority to re-sign and he should be. The defensive back revived his career in the Mile High City as he recorded 19 pass deflections in 15 games while recording 3 interceptions.

Here is the potential free-agent list from the Denver Broncos that contains 16 players:

"The 16 Broncos who are eligible for unrestricted free agency: Decker, wide receiver; Moreno, running back; Beadles, offensive guard; Shaun Phillips, defensive end; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback; Wesley Woodyard, linebacker; Mike Adams, safety; Robert Ayers, defensive end; Paris Lenon, linebacker; Andre Caldwell, wide receiver; Chris Kuper, offensive guard; Quentin Jammer, cornerback; Jeremy Mincey, defensive end; Michael Huff, safety; Steve Vallos, center-guard; and Winston Justice, offensive tackle."

The Broncos were without key defensive players Von Miller (ACL), Chris Harris (ACL), Rahim Moore (leg), Derek Wolfe (seizure-like symptoms), Kevin Vickerson (hip); as well as All-Pro offensive tackle Ryan Clady. Those guys look to come back stronger than ever and try to bring the Denver Broncos back to the promise land. Denver does have some things to take care of from their own team as well. Do they re-sign wide receiver Eric Decker or running back Knowshon Moreno? Reports have said Denver will likely re-sign Decker while they plan to hand the torch off to soon to be second-year running back Montee Ball. Regardless of the signings, with Denver’s roster getting healthy for a 2014-15′ campaign, Denver will have to like their chances moving forward.