Should the Denver Broncos be aggressive in the 2013 offseason?

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We already know the Denver Broncos got ousted out of the 2012 playoffs in horrific fashion. We already know Peyton Manning is now one year closer to retirement. We already know there are still significant issues on this Broncos team on both sides of the ball. However, do the Broncos go into 2013 with aggressive offseason moves to get them back to the Divisional Playoff round?

Aggressive offseason moves as in moving up in the 2013 draft to draft specific players that will make an impact? Focusing on a weakness on the roster immediately, in the next 2-3 seasons, or pursue the most talented free agents with contract offers that will out compete the market for their services, or trade for players on other teams that will cost a risky amount of draft picks in the future?

Other teams have done these tactics, and had success. The Chicago Bears traded for Jay Cutler, and signed numerous big name free agents such as Julius Peppers, that led to a competitive Bears team, that made it as high as the NFC Championship game in 2010. The Atlanta Falcons gave up numerous draft picks to select Julio Jones, and signed various free agents to get to the NFC Championship this last season. However for every success story on teams with an aggressive offseason, are numerous failures. The New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles made aggressive offseason moves that have put themselves in a position, where they have bad rosters and little cap room or draft picks, to dig themselves out of their personnel issues.

As you can see, it is a tough decision to make an aggressive move, and it’s even harder to make the right decision with so much pressure on the Broncos to win now, with Peyton Manning. However, for the Broncos for now, they need to forget about the pressures, and continue to build this team through the draft. Time after time, the teams that build through the draft become consistent competitors, and win Championships. Over the last 10 seasons, the Super Bowl winners were primarily built through the NFL draft. With only two of those teams making any significant free agent signings with the New Orleans Saints with Drew Brees and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Brad Johnson. Bottom-line, the Broncos need to let the 2013 offseason come to them, and any talk of aggressive offseason moves could spell doom for this teams competitiveness in the future.

James Cobern is a Featured Journalist for TPF and can be contacted at JCobern@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.