The next team up in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes is the team that has already made the most vocal overtures to the former Skins QB- The Denver Broncos. Von Miller, the Broncos' star linebacker and face of the franchise, has gone on record saying Cousins could put them "over the edge". In truth, the Broncos are not that dissimilar from the team that won the Super Bowl a few years ago with an under-performing Peyton Manning at the helm. They have been held back by sub-par QB play from Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, and Paxton Lynch. If John Elway is able to swing a deal, he could have an immediate upgrade in Cousins.
What would Cousins have to work with if he went to Denver? A fair amount. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, CJ Anderson, and Devontae Booker are all under contract for the next two seasons. That collection is a better group of weapons than he has ever had in DC. The team also has high picks in this years draft after a down year, so they would be able to add to the arsenal for their new QB. Couple that with improvements to a defense that, while top 3 in yards allowed per game, fell to 22nd in points allowed, and the Broncos could immediately compete for the AFC title once again.
There are some issues in getting Kirk to Denver, however, and not just the possibility that he and his family may not want to live at altitude. The Broncos only have between $24-28 million in cap space, all of which would be eaten up by the massive contract that Cousins' agent thinks he deserves. They would need to do some creative cutting or restructuring to make sure they can afford Cousins while also have enough money to pay their draft picks and any other free agents. This could be a tough sell for high paid players like Miller or Thomas, and could cost them a weapon in Anderson, who has no dead cap hit and could save the team $4.5 million if he is cut. Elway would have to find the proper balance of saving and spending to put a competitive team around his new QB.
I believe that the consensus among writers and talking heads is that John Elway will find a way to sign Kirk Cousins. The team wants him and is letting everyone know. Elway knows he can win it all with a half-way decent QB and a solid defense. Cousins would give them a Top 10 QB that could give the offense the jolt it needs to not only compete in the AFC West, but for another Super Bowl championship. If they are just a QB away, and Cousins is their man, Elway needs to make it happen.
What do you think of Kirk Cousins and the Denver Broncos?
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