The Broncos did their own top-100 list, naming their

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With the NFL celebrating its 100th season , get ready for all kinds of 100 lists that are sure to elicit debate.The Broncos used 5,000 fan votes along with team alumni, team historian Jim Saccomano and senior digital reporter Andrew Mason to select the franchise’s greatest players.The group came up with 47 offensive players, 46 defensive players and seven special teamers, and the Broncos will recognize the players at the Oct. 13 game against the Titans.The question is: How many of the Broncos’ top-100 players will make the NFL’s top 100?One name we know for sure: John Elway remains one of the NFL’s all-time best at his position. He is a lock for any all-time team.The Broncos have five other players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Other Hall of Famers played for the Broncos but didn’t spend the majority of their careers in Denver.)Of the team’s Hall of Famers recognized primarily for what they did as Broncos, tight end Shannon Sharpe and cornerback Champ Bailey appear to have the best shot at an all-time NFL team depending on how many players are chosen at each position. Terrell Davis, Floyd Little and Gary Zimmerman have little chance.So Denver could end up with only one player on the NFL’s all-time team, among players who spent the majority of their careers with the Broncos. (Peyton Manning is on the Broncos’ top-100 list, and certainly will make the NFL’s top-100 team, but he spent the majority of his career in Indianapolis.) Check out the Broncos’ list of their top-100 players and decide for yourself. With the draft behind us, I look ahead to 2020 and beyond." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesMile High Report homepageHorizontal - WhiteMile High Reporta Denver Broncos communityFollow Mile High Report online:Follow Mile High Report on TwitterFollow Mile High Report on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchMile High Report main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBroncosOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Broncos NewsBroncos ScheduleBroncos PodcastsBroncos Film RoomBroncos RosterBroncos Injury UpdatesFull ArchiveBroncos StoriesScheduleRosterStatsOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕What are the Broncos long-term needs? New,45commentsWith the draft behind us, I look ahead to 2020 and beyond.MDTWith UDFAs in the process of being signed, we are about to reach that point in the NFL calendar where every roster is at capacity in preparation for the upcoming mini and training camp. Now that the big additions mostly over, it’s a good time to take a look and surmise what it means. Everything contract-related comes from Spotrac unless otherwise noted.Contracts expiring in 2020Twenty-nine players have expiring contracts this year. The big names we know. Chris Harris is in the midst of a “trade me or pay me” situation with Elway, and E is probably gone, even as he hopes to play out his career and make the Ring of Fame in Denver.Shelby Harris’ contract situation is also well known. I mentioned in GIF Horse how I expect him to play his way to a major payday, but it’s no guarantee that’s in orange and blue. Derek Wolfe has been an Elway favorite for a long time but has already taken a below-market deal once. Of the big three, defensive lineman Gotsis’ future seems the least uncertain as his market value seems unlikely to move out of Elway’s comfort zone. Barring an unforeseen surge in a contract year he is who he is, roughly a poor man’s version of Wolfe with less health uncertainty.Every player listed at safety on the Broncos official site but Cravens has a contract expiring after this season. Reports out of the first voluntary minicamp suggest Kareem Jackson may start, but of course the Harris situation throws all of that into question.Justin Simmons and Will Parks both deserve attention in 2019. Both are members of the 2016 class and their play led to T.J. Wards’ departure during the final cuts right before the 2017 season. Since coming into the starting lineup , Simmons has seemingly been on the verge, even earning high praise from me last summer.GIF Horse - Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons - Mile High ReportAt least thus far he has failed to meet my expectations. Part of it is that he became a bit of an “everywhere” man as other members of the Fly Zone fell by the wayside. Part of it is that he had an uneven season. Parks on the other hand really came on in the Joseph defense. Don’t sleep on him. Connor McGovern is an interesting name on the list. Last year was his first starting and he had some uneven moments, even as he flashed really strong play in the run game at times. He moved to Center once Matt Paradis was lost for the season and showed some promise. Now he’s moving there full time with a legendary position coach spending an offseason to get him acclimated. If he makes a leap I fully expect the Broncos to do what it takes to hold onto him.2021 guys who may be gone soonerLeary’s contract carries all of $875,000 in dead cap next year and the Broncos can save $8.5 million if they move on. It’s no certainty they do. After all, when he’s been healthy enough to play, he’s been pretty solid. It just hasn’t been often enough. He’s played in 17 out of a possible 32 games the last two seasons. Todd Davis is in a deal that looked like a bit of a time bomb as soon as he signed it. If Elway had wanted to, it would have only cost $2 million to move on this year (with $3 million in savings). It simply didn’t make sense to do so as Davis has been exactly what the Broncos were hoping for when they handed the former undrafted free agent a three-year, $15 million deal. He’s really good at stopping the run and an underrated pass defender, even if he isn’t fast enough to keep up with the best athletes in the NFL. For that reason, I suspect he’ll stick through the end of his deal barring a big slip in play. If they do move on, Denver can gain $5 million in space (as opposed to $1 M in dead cap) next year.The Zach Kerr contract is similar to Davis’ in that I currently doubt he’s gone before 2021. But the fact is he signed a two-year $5 million contract to return to the Broncos this offseason that carries all of $300,000 in dead cap for 2020. If something forced Elway to clean the books to make room that’s a very easy deal to move to create $2.65 million in space. Jeff Heuerman’s deal is likely a one-year Band Aid, and Noah Fant in the first round has already put him on notice. Jake Butt could be a cut in camp if he gets lost in a crowded position room.I would expect the same for DeMarcus Walker and Su’a Cravens. Both are here because they have pedigree. Neither have done enough to justify keeping them over more productive players unless they come on strong in camp. I listed both kickers because you never know. The Broncos just signed a leg to compete in camp, after all.OthersJoe Flacco - QuarterbackAs soon as Drew Lock looks ready to take the reigns the Broncos will cut ties with the former Baltimore Raven. For all of the snickers from the national media, this move was a masterstroke by Elway. There’s no guaranteed money on Flacco’s deal so there’s no dead money when it’s time for Denver to move on, but the signal caller has every reason to put his best foot forward. It may be his last chance to make $20+ million. ConclusionFrom this far out, it’s always a bit of a fool’s errand to guess what next year’s biggest need will be. An undrafted free agent or a player making a huge jump under the new staff could alter everything. But barring that, I would think inside linebacker and offensive line are two of the more pressing long-term areas of need. They aren’t the only ones. In 2020 Mock drafts safety, defensive line, and receiver have been the positions most often picked to the Broncos. A new coaching staff means different systems on both sides of the ball. Combine that with the typical roster churn and many familiar faces could be playing out the string this year.

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