Three More Broncos Depart in Free Agency

This week saw three more Broncos leave via free agency. LB Nate Irving signed with the Colts, TE Jacob Tamme signed with the Falcons, and DT Mitch Unrein signed with the Chargers. Let's take a closer look at the impact of all three leaving.

1) Irving going to Indy is a shame because whenever he played he seemed to standout-especially against the run. He got hurt in the New England game last year, but for the first eight games I liked what I saw out of him. Remember, Irving stepped in when the Broncos defense got gashed by injuries on their way to the Super Bowl in 2013, and he played well. I guess the switch to a 3-4 defense and the tandem of Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall made Irving expendable. He was a quality player, and it would have been nice to bring him back for depth, but he got a better deal in Indy.

2) Tamme leaving really bothered me. I guess he was looking for more of an opportunity to catch passes and be a bigger part of the offense in Atlanta than he will be in Denver. He leaves Peyton Manning but at least he is going to play with Matt Ryan. I really wanted Denver to re-sign him as the third TE behind Owen Daniels and Virgil Green, but like a lot of other guys this offseason, Tamme took the better offer and better opportunity. He was also a valuable presence on special teams, so that part will be missed as well.

3) Unrein leaving really isn't a big deal. His playing time decreased this past year as opposed to 2013, and he is just a depth guy and a rotational player, so the impact of him leaving really shouldn't be felt at all.


Since the Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks, here is the list of quality players/starters who have left Denver from that moment: Knowshon Moreno, Eric Decker, Zane Beadles, Orlando Franklin, Jacob Tamme, Julius Thomas, Joel Dreessen (Retired), Trindon Holliday, Robert Ayers, Shaun Phillips, Nate Irving, Wesley Woodyard, Mitch Unrein, Terrence Knighton, Rahim Moore, Kevin Vickerson, Champ Bailey (Retired), and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. That is a lot of guys who are gone in only two years. Plus, that is not counting Wes Welker if he decides to not come back to Denver.