Rosario

Former Carolina Panthers tight end Dante Rosario has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos.  The news comes moments after our report that he would be visiting the Broncos this evening was published.

Rosario will come in for a physical tonight and if he passes, will become the newest Bronco.  The addition of Rosario adds nice depth to the Broncos tight end position.  Details of his contract will be posted if and when the information becomes available.

Dante Rosario #88 of the Carolina Panthers in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Broncos Head Coach John Fox has yet to sign a free agent who played under him in Carolina.  That may change this evening.

Former Carolina Panthers tight end Dante Rosario is scheduled to meet with the team Sunday night, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post.  Rosario is an athletic receiver at tight end and was drafted by Fox in 2007. 

Rosario appeared in all sixteen games last season and was the second tight end on Carolina’s depth chart.  A former Oregon Duck, Rosario is a twenty-six years old 6-4, 250 pound prospect. 

If he were to sign with Denver, Rosario he would join Virgil Green, Dan Gronkowski, Richard Quinn and Julius Thomas as the fifth tight end on the roster.  Rosario would provide a veteran presence to the group and compete for a special team’s position.

From 2007-2010, Rosario caught 82 passes for 894 yards and five scores.  Dante also recorded 13 special team’s tackles during that same time period.

Defensive end Jamaal Anderson #98 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on during warm-ups prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on December 19, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Editorial Revision: — It was mistakenly written below that Atlanta runs a 3-4 defense and that Anderson would be a 4-3 defensive tackle.  The Falcons actually run a 4-3 defense, in which Anderson played mostly defensive end.  He could however still see time as a rotational DT in Denver’s defense.

On October 12th, 2008, then-Atlanta Falcons rookie defensive end Jamaal Anderson recorded his first sack in a professional football game when he took down Chicago Bears then-quarterback Kyle Orton.  Fast forward three years and Anderson is a free agent and Orton is the quarterback of the Denver Broncos.

As is well known, Denver is in serious need of depth at the defensive tackle position.  In Atlanta’s 3-4 defense, Anderson played defensive end.  In Denver’s 4-3 defense, he could fit as a defensive tackle.  According to PFT’s Mike Florio, Anderson is set to visit the Broncos and Titans.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos veteran safety Brain Dawkins will remain the leader of Denver’s defense — for at least one more season.  The Broncos restructured Dawkins contract and came to an agreement with the thirty-seven year old defensive back last Friday.

Entering his 16th season in the league and 3rd with the Broncos, Dawkins is well-respected across the NFL and especially among his teammates.  It is expected that Dawkins will be the Broncos’ starting strong safety this year, joined by rookie free safety Rahim Moore in the back end of Denver’s secondary.

It is obvious that Dawkin has lost a step, so the younger safeties on the Broncos roster could see some rotational time at strong safety for Dawkins this season.  Rookie Quinton Carter will compete for playing time.

Although his legs are slowing down, Dawkins still has all the upper body strength and tackling skills you could ask for him a safety, and is a phenomenal leader and motivator.  Starting in eleven games, Dawkins recorded 66 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception last season.

Harris' days in orange and blue appear to have come to an end. (AP Photo/ Chris Schneider)

UPDATE — Harris will visit with the Broncos Tuesday August 2nd and is expected to re-sign with the team.

After offensive lineman Ryan Harris struggled with injuries the last two seasons, it was expected Denver may not re-sign him when his contract was up.  That speculation appears to be coming true. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Running back Willis McGahee #23 of the Baltimore Ravens runs against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on November 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Following the news that free agent running back Marion Barber III had signed with the Chicago Bears, it is being reported that the Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with former Ravens running back Willis McGahee.  (And yes, for real this time.  McGahee is officially a Bronco).

According to ProFootballTalk, McGahee’s deal is worth roughly $10 million over a four year span.  Bringing in a physicality and toughness that Denver’s backfield has been missing, McGahee is expected to compete with running back Knowshon Moreno for the starting job.

[Related: Film Room: A Look At Willis McGahee]

The Broncos now have seven running backs on the roster.  The team will probably enter the season with four or five.  Expect Denver’s running game to improve from last season under the guidance of new Head Coach John Fox.

The Broncos struggled mightily on short yardage downs and goal line sitations in 2010, two areas where McGahee specializes — which probably factored in Denver’s decision to sign him.  More details of McGahee’s contract will be posted when they become available.

Now that this is out of the way, Denver can focus on signing a defensive tackle, right? (Why do I feel like a broken record?)

Premature reports that surfaced yesterday saying Willis McGahee had signed with the Broncos may have just been a few days early.  Fox31 reporter Josina Anderson says there has been some progress made.

Shortly after Josina’s tweet, Mike Klis of the Denver Post reported that McGahee would be visiting the Broncos either tonight or Sunday.  According to Klis, the Broncos want to take a look at McGahee and give him a physical before finalizing a deal.

It appears that only formalities remain before McGahee is officially a Bronco, which would solidify Denver’s backfield.  Joining up with fellow backs Knowshon Moreno, LenDale White, Lance Ball and Mario Fannin, McGahee would become part of Head Coach John Fox‘s running-by-committee approach.

According to regular practice observers, Denver has been practicing a lot more running plays this training camp than in year’s past.  Fox is known for producing productive rushing attacks, so it is expected the Broncos running will vastly improve from last season.

Klis’ report also said Denver is making progress in their efforts to re-sign defensive tackle Marcus Thomas.  Denver has yet to sign a defensive tackle in free agency that did not play for the team last season.

Here’s hoping McGahee signs and the Broncos acquire a defensive tackle before they all sign elsewhere.

Anderson started in 10 games for the Texans during his five-year career. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America)

Despite already having eleven wide receivers on the roster, the Broncos on Saturday signed former Houston Texans wide receiver David Anderson.  The news was first reported by Anderson himself, via Twitter.

Coming to Denver after playing in Houston for the past five seasons, Anderson is entering his sixth year in the league at age 28.  Anderson is a 5-10, 197 pound receiver who played college ball at Colorado State.

Many Bronco fans were hoping a free agent Texan would sign with Denver today. Anderson wasn’t that player, however.  Former Houston defensive tackle Amobi Okoye was on the mind of many fans’ and the Broncos did target him.  According to sources, Okoye just signed with the Chicago Bears.

The Broncos still haven’t inked a stud defensive tackle, so Anderson’s signing is a bit confusing.  The team is already loaded with depth at receiver and Anderson hasn’t done much during his career.

From 2006-2010, Anderson caught 81 passes for 886 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He will compete with the younger receivers on Denver’s roster during training camp.

Color me confused and a bit disappointed with EFX.  Where’s that defensive tackle?

Hill will always be remembered (and perhaps, never forgiven) for his pass interference play against the Jets in week six of last season that ultimately cost Denver the game. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

The Denver Broncos announced on Saturday evening that veteran safety Renaldo Hill has been released from the team.  The move surprises no one, as Mr. East predicted last Wednesday that Hill would be cut, freeing up $5.5 million in cap space for the team.

Hill is entering his 11th season after playing the previous two years in Denver.  At 32 years old, Hill is being pushed aside to make room for the younger safeties on the roster.  Starting in 31 games, Hill recorded 122 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 4 interceptions from 2009-2010.

Youngsters  Nick Polk, David Bruton and Darcel McBath are joined by rookies Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter as five of the six remaining safeties on Denver’s roster.  The sixth is veteran Brian Dawkins — who may also be cut if the team does not restructure his contract.

Dawkins is entering his 16th season in the NFL but may still be retained to coach his successors and provide the leadership he has displayed since joining the Broncos in 2009.  Second round draft pick Rahim Moore is expected to be a starter on week one, Dawkins may be the other.

The Broncos now have more cap room and a less crowded backend of the secondary.  Stay tuned for news on more cuts expected to come.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trent Edwards (5) is sacked by Houston Texans' Amobi Okoye (91) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The Denver Broncos have refused to sign an overpaid, aging, past-his-prime defensive tackle in free agency this offseason, and passed up on Seattle’s young Brandon Mebane (who was relatively cheap).  As a result, the team has a gaping hole on the depth chart smack in the middle of Denver’s 4-3 defense.

The Houston Texans have just given Denver a chance to fill that hole, at a reasonable price.  Texans reporter John McClain tweeted at 2pm (MT) that Houston had released defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, due to cap reasons.  A 2007 first round draft pick, Okoye’s agent was not able to find a team willing to trade for him, forcing Houston to place him on waivers.

Okoye is a four year starter and just twenty-four years old.  Measuring up and weighing in at 6-2, 315 pounds, Okoye is projected as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense.  A former Louisville Cardinal, Okoye played alongside Broncos current defensive end Elvis Dumervil during his collegiate career.

From 2009-2010, Okoye started in 32 games and totaled 82 tackles and 4.5 sacks.  His rookie season, 2007, the defensive lineman recorded 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles — both career highs.

Akoye would be a solid addition to Denver’s defense line.  My fingers are crossed.

Update (3:30 MT): The Broncos have made contact with representatives for free agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, according to Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post.