The Broncos, who have $85 million in dead cap space over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, couldn’t afford to pay everyone they wanted this offseason. Cushenberry’s departure was an unwelcome side consequence.
Denver’s future seems bright now, with a standout rookie quarterback in Bo Nix and important components in place to support him in the long run. That was demonstrated by two major contracts signed before the 2024 season: Quinn Meinerz to a four-year, $72 million contract extension and NFL All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II to a four-year, $96 million contract.
According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, the Broncos might continue to bolster their roster by replacing Cushenberry with Atlanta Falcons centre Drew Dalman in free agency in 2025.
Dalman has only appeared in four games in 2024, starting the first three before hurting his ankle and returning for a Week 11 loss to the Broncos.
“Drew Dalman will have to be considered if the Broncos are interested in upgrading the position,” Ballentine noted in an email. “He has gone through his own growing pains and can now be regarded an addition to the Falcons offensive line. He has missed all but four games this year due to injuries, but he is only 26 and just entering his peak.”
Calculating What Dalman Could Cost in Free Agency
Dalman rated fourth on Heavy.com’s “10 NFL Players Who Deserve to Get Paid in 2025” list, making him the highest-ranked offensive tackle to make the cut.
“Drew Dalman has quietly become one of the top centres in the game over the past couple of years, grading out with a fantastic 78.9 PFF grade in 2024,” Arwas said on Saturday, November 8. “With his rookie contract up in 2021, barring injury or tragic event, Dalman can almost start counting his cash.”
The Falcons selected Dalman in the fourth round (No. 114 overall) of the 2021 NFL draft after he was a two-time All-Pac-12 pick at Stanford. He appeared in all 17 games as a backup as a rookie before becoming the Falcons’ full-time starter in 2022. He’s also a second-generation NFL player. His father, offensive tackle Chris Dalman, was also an All-Pac-12 selection at Stanford and played with the San Francisco 49ers from 1993 to 2000, winning the Super Bowl in 1994.
It’s unclear how much the Broncos will have to compensate Dalman. According to Over the Cap, the top five highest paid centres had an average contract value of $57 million, with the next five highest paid centres having an average contract value of $22 million.
One beginning point for the Broncos could be the three-year, $30 million contract signed by Washington Commanders centre Tyler Biadasz in March 2024.
Wattenberg Hasn’t Made The Most Of Opportunity
Luke Wattenberg, Cushenberry’s replacement, has started eight games for the Broncos in 2024 (missing four due to an ankle injury), but has underperformed.
Dalman presently has a 61.4 grade point average for 2024, according PFF. Despite not allowing any sacks, he has been flagged for four penalties.
“(The Broncos) have to go to work this offseason to make sure Nix has everything he needs to succeed,” Ballentine said in a letter. “That could involve a change at the pivot where Luke Wattenberg just hasn’t secured the job.”
Leave a Reply