Broncos Sign Welker (2y/12m), Vasquez (4y/23.5m), DRC (5m), Knighton, & Bradley

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

Broncos signed OG Louis Vasquez to a four-year, $23.5 million contract.

The deal includes $13M guaranteed. The Chargers claimed that retaining Vasquez was a priority, but they never proved it with a contract offer. San Diego let the second-best guard available hit the market and he strengthened a division rival. A top-13 overall guard last season according to Pro Football Focus, the 6'5/335 Vasquez is especially effective as a pass blocker. He'll be as asset in the Broncos' quest to keep Peyton Manning upright. An impressive Vasquez stat: In 3,435 career snaps, he has been called for just one penalty.

Broncos re-signed DT Kevin Vickerson to a two-year contract.

Already thin in the interior of their defensive line, the Broncos made bringing back Vickerson a priority. He's coming off a solid, 40-tackle, two-sack campaign as a starter next to Justin Bannan. Ideally, the Broncos would reduce Vickerson's 2013 snaps. They're looking into acquiring Terrance Knighton.

Broncos re-signed S David Bruton to a three-year, $4.5 million contract.

25-year-old Bruton doesn't play on defense, but he is a force as a special teams gunner. His return should not affect Denver's plans to upgrade at safety.

[Glenbino]

I'm glad big Vick is coming back but we still need a DT who can pressure the pocket.

Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil have been counted on to provide the pass rush from the outside and it's killed us against guys like Brady who just step up and avoid the outside rush easily. Derek Wolfe helped a little in this area but they still need more help.

David Bruton is good at ST and pretty much nothing else.

I don't know much about Vasquez. Like a normal person I spent less than two seconds watching the performance of the interior of San Diego's O-Line last season.

[Leftwich]

They're looking into acquiring Terrance Knighton.

Reuniting Pot Roast and Jack Del Rio will rejuvenate Knighton's young career.

[Glenbino]

Reuniting Pot Roast and Jack Del Rio will rejuvenate Knighton's young career.

Yeah supposedly Denver is really going hard at the 25 and under guys. That's why they have no interest in bringing in SJax and are bringing in guys like Mendenhall for visits instead.

[TheImmortalGoud]

https://twitter.com/johnelway/status/311943322384072704

John Elway @johnelway
Agreed to terms on a 2-yr deal with Wes Welker. Excited to have Wes join the Broncos. His production & toughness will be a great asset!

Rotoworld

Broncos signed LB Stewart Bradley, formerly of the Cardinals, to a one-year contract.

Bradley was released by Arizona two weeks ago, and Denver was his only free-agent visit. He's expected to compete with Nate Irving and, to a degree, Steven Johnson for the starting middle linebacker job. Bradley turns 30 in November, and his signing likely means Joe Mays will be released.

[Glenbino]

Holy Christ...

[jms493]

Fantasy Gold...

[TheImmortalGoud]

He'll get 2-Years, $12m.

[Glenbino]

Danny Amendola should be a Pat within hours.

$6 mil per for a slot guy is steep but this is obviously a huge upgrade over Stokley and we had to do something to help out the guys on the outside. Baltimore beat us basically by doubling Decker/Thomas and just blitzing the shit out of us up the middle.

Teams will have to give a lot more pause before they send that middle backer now with an improved interior line and Welker going over the middle.

[ralaw]

He'll get 2-Years, $12m.

I wonder if the Pats offered something similar? Based on what he was expecting ($9 million) this seems low. This deal smells of a big screw you to the Pats.

[Goober]

This seems super cheap. I didn't even know that Welker was a free agent tbh, so it's a nice surprise to add a premier talent like this.

[Len B]

Fantasy Gold...

This pisses me off from a fantasy point of view. How the hell are you going to be able to get consistent production out of Thomas/Decker/Welker? You will never know which guy gets the ball.

Manning's the only one who benefits.

[Len B]

I wonder if the Pats offered something similar? Based on what he was expecting ($9 million) this seems low. This deal smells of a big screw you to the Pats.

That's what I thought. Apparently Pats declined 5 million a year.

Everyone knows how much I think Welker is overrated. As long as they can bring in someone to replace his spot I'm okay with letting him walk. However if they trot out there with Edelman and Tyrone Calico I will be pissed off.

[Goober]

A source close to Tom Brady tells CSN New England he is "beyond enraged" at the Patriots letting Wes Welker for two years and $12 million, and feels it is a "disgrace" and a "disservice."

[Glenbino]

Good thing they re-structured with him beforehand. Darth Belechik probably told him it was to free up cap space for Welker.