2001 free-agency coverage

Broncos are busy in free-agent market

As published in print April 26, 2001

Broncos QB Brian Griese

At the start of the offseason, many people considered the Broncos to be a legitimate threat to reach Super Bowl XXXVI. Now that they have spent big bucks to attract big-name talent to Denver, in addition to re-signing a couple of key starters to startlingly expensive contracts, Denver is beginning to look like a powerhouse team again.

Since the previous print edition of Pro Football Weekly went to press in late March, the Broncos have lured the likes of C Quentin Neujahr, WR-KR Eddie Kennison, DE Keith Washington, DT Chester McGlockton, OT Todd Fordham and CB Darryll Lewis to the Mile High City. They also re-signed restricted free agent QB Brian Griese and then awarded a contract extension to DT Trevor Pryce. This is in addition to picking up DT Leon Lett and CB Denard Walker early in the free-agent signing period.

The Broncos locked up Griese long-term, giving the three-year veteran a six-year, $39 million deal that included a $12.6 million signing bonus. Fordham began to come on late last year while playing right tackle for the Jaguars, and he may have a leg up on young OTs Cooper Carlisle and Trey Teague in the competition to start opposite Matt Lepsis. Fordham agreed to a one-year deal worth $700,000 plus incentives. Also on the offensive line, Neujahr, who signed a one-year, $477,000 pact, provides good depth behind starter Tom Nalen. Still on offense, Kennison should find a role as the team’s No. 3 receiver behind Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey and as a return man. However, the Broncos rarely employ three-WR sets, instead preferring to throw to their tight ends and running backs.

On defense, McGlockton will join Pryce and Lett as part of the DT rotation. Denver rewarded Pryce, who is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl season, with an extension worth as much as $60 million over seven years. The deal included an $11 million signing bonus. It is believed to be the richest contract ever signed by a Broncos player. Lewis comes to Denver from San Diego after signing a one-year, $477,000 deal. The veteran corner should provide depth along with first-round pick Willie Middlebrooks behind starters Walker and Deltha O’Neal. Washington will add depth at end.

The Broncos aren’t the only team that made a splash in the free-agent market in the past month. Here’s a rundown of some of the other NFL teams that have been most active on the free-agent front:

• Baltimore was busy with a host of re-signings. After it looked like OLB Jamie Sharper might be headed elsewhere, the Ravens stepped up and gave him a five-year, $22 million contract that included a $2.5 million signing bonus. However, it could wind up being a one-year deal, as the Ravens have to pay $3.5 million up front in 2002 to exercise the final four years on the deal. The Ravens also re-signed OT Harry Swayne, who had been released in March in an effort to create cap space. After the Panthers signed Kyle Richardson to an offer sheet, the Ravens decided to match the offer, meaning the punter will earn $850,000 in 2001.

• The Chiefs have also been very busy. Head coach Dick Vermeil will be reunited with a bunch of his former Rams players now that QB Trent Green, WRs Tony Horne and Chris Thomas and DB Taje Allen have headed across Missouri from St. Louis to Kansas City. Vermeil traded for Green and landed Horne after the Rams failed to match a two-year, $1.5 million offer sheet. The day before the draft, the Chiefs also added former Ravens RB Priest Holmes (five years, $8 million, $2 million signing bonus) and QB Bubby Brister (one year, $500,000).

• The Panthers landed highly-regarded OLT Todd Steussie, who had been released by the Vikings. Steussie is the final piece of a revamped offensive line that will also include free-agent signees Jeff Mitchell and Kevin Donnalley. Ex-49er DT Brentson Buckner was a solid pickup for the Panthers who can expect to start next to Sean Gilbert. Carolina also dumped P Ken Walter in favor of former Chief Todd Sauerbrun.

• The Bears were able to land the top-rated defensive tackle on the market in Ted Washington. After originally rebuffing the Bears’ first offer, Washington found there wasn’t better available money elsewhere and signed with Chicago.

• RB Charlie Garner is headed from San Francisco across the bay to Oakland, where he reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $10.5 million, including a $2 million signing bonus. Oakland also signed former Buccaneers OG Frank Middleton and traded for ex-Rams TE Roland Williams.

To team-by-team list of free agents and offseason moves

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