Russell Okung agrees to five-year deal with Broncos to bolster offensive line By Troy Renck DenverPost.com March 18, 2016 Last one left, turn out the lights. After enduring a season of injury and ineffectiveness, the Broncos made a bold move in their offensive line overhaul, agreeing to terms on a unique five-year, $53 million deal with former Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung. Okung bet on himself, with only the 2016 season guaranteed at $5 million. "I think I've shown the ability to play left tackle at a high level. They had a hole there and they wanted to bring a guy in. I can service that need. I do have that confidence because I have great support around me," said Okung, who served as his own agent, securing $3 million in incentives this season. "I'm going to be playing with a really good offensive line, too." Okung's arrival means the Broncos could boast four new starters up front and six new first teamers on offense when offseason workouts begin April 18. General manager John Elway sought an upgrade at left tackle since passing on a trade for Cleveland's Joe Thomas last October. He landed Okung on a test drive deal. After 2016, the Broncos hold a club option on a four-year, $48 million deal with $20.5 million guaranteed that must be exercised before the new league year. "It's a bit intricate, but I thought it was the best deal for me moving forward," Okung said. "Denver is the place I want to be for the long haul." The former sixth selection in the 2010 draft, Okung played his first six seasons in Seattle, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2012. He joins newcomer Donald Stephenson, who signed as a free agent from Kansas City and is penciled in to take over at right tackle. The Broncos line projects new starters at both tackle spots, left guard Max Garcia and right guard Ty Sambrailo. Michael Schofield started at right tackle last year and returns. Ryan Harris, who manned left tackle for 13 games, signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this week. The Broncos cut guard Louis Vasquez and Evan Mathis agreed to a one-year deal with Arizona. Denver also will feature new starters at quarterback and tight end. Broncos Mailbag: Pose a question for Troy E. Renck Okung's addition likely signals the end of Ryan Clady's career in Denver. The Broncos attempted to bring Clady back at roughly $5 million this season, marking a significant pay cut from his $9.5 million salary. He is a candidate to be traded or released. Clady has spent his entire seven-year career with Denver, making four Pro Bowls, but has started only 18 games over the past three seasons. Clady would leave $1.2 million in dead money against the salary cap if the Broncos deal or cut him. Okung provides experience and the ability to handle elite pass rushers when healthy. The 28-year-old dislocated his left shoulder in Seattle's playoff loss at Carolina and said he should be cleared in late May or early June.

The Broncos improved their running game beginning in the season's ninth week, but never solidified their pass protection. Denver allowed 39 sacks last season, 13th in the NFL. Okung, 6-foot-5, 307 pounds, is comfortable in Denver's zone blocking scheme after using it for six years in Seattle. "I understand all the concepts and just everything that they have here," Okung said. "I hope I have something great to offer the team." Okung visited the Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Steelers and attracted interest from Seattle and San Francisco. "The class and integrity, it goes with the (Broncos) organization and speaks volumes," Okung said. "I wanted to be a part of a place that did that."

Colts to honor Peyton Manning with ceremony in Indianapolis By Nicki Jhabvala DenverPost.com March 18, 2016 More than a week after announcing his retirement from the NFL, Peyton Manning will return to where it all started. The Indianapolis Colts will honor Manning in a ceremony at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis at 10 a.m. Friday, the team announced. Both Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay will speak at the event. Before Super Bowl 50, Irsay said he hoped Manning would retire a Colt after spending the first 14 seasons of his NFL career with the team and helping Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title, in 2006. During his retirement ceremony in Colorado on March 7, however, Manning said he leaves the game "as a football player from the University of Tennessee that played for the Colts and the Broncos. I'm very lucky to have played for all of them." The Colts released Manning in 2012 after he spent a season on the sideline to recover from four neck surgeries. His exit ushered in the Andrew Luck era in Indianapolis, and quickly began Manning's whirlwind free-agency tour. On March 20, 2012 the Broncos introduced Manning as their new quarterback, beginning a four-year tenure that would include a slew of individual and team records, four consecutive AFC West titles, two Super Bowls and one Super Bowl title. But in his 13 playing seasons in Indianapolis, Manning had arguably already solidified his place in the Hall of Fame. From the day the Colts drafted him at No. 1 in 1998 to his final game in blue and white in January 2011, Manning led the Colts to eight divisional titles and two Super Bowls. He earned four of his five career MVP awards as a Colt, as well as 11 of his 14 Pro Bowl selections. He also set franchise records with 7,210 career pass attempts, 4,682 completions, 54,828 passing yards, 399 passing touchdowns, 46 game-winning drives and 35 fourth-quarter comebacks. "Few have left their marks on a sport as Peyton Manning has," Irsay said after Manning's retirement. "Simply put, he revolutionized NFL football. Peyton energized it as had no one before him, he made it more fun for our fans, and made the game better."

Broncos sign Russell Okung to unusual contract By Mike Klis 9News March 18, 2016 If Russell Okung is healthy, the Denver Broncos just signed themselves one of the NFL’s best left tackles. Okung’s health is a big if. Recent shoulder surgery and various other injuries that have caused Okung to miss an average of four games a season in his six-year career is one reason why he signed a team-protected contract Thursday with the Broncos. According to two NFL sources, Okung’s contract is for one year and $5 million – providing he passes two physical exam checkpoints before the season. After this season there are year-to-year options – at the Broncos’ discretion -- that could pay Okung a total of $48 million in the four seasons from 2017-2020. Most agents and NFL executives, though, would consider that four-year, $48 million fluff money. Okung, who dismissed his agents two years ago and decided to represent himself, just negotiated one of the most uncommon contracts an established player has received in a while. “It’s a bit intricate, but I thought it was the best deal for me moving forward," Okung said in a conference call with the Denver media. "Denver is the place I want to be for the long haul.” Given his injury history, Okung’s one-year, $5 million deal might be considered fair. A qualified agent may have got more, but the dislocated shoulder injury Okung suffered in the Seattle Seahawks’ second-round playoff loss at Carolina on Jan. 17 did scare teams away from offering the type of contract he may have otherwise commanded. Okung started all 72 games he played for Seattle. He was the No. 6 pick out of Oklahoma State in the 2010 draft, made the Pro Bowl in 2012, did his part in helping the Seahawks destroy the Broncos, 43-8 in the 2013-season Super Bowl and made nearly $11 million in 2014. Okung and right tackle Donald Stephenson could wind up as the Broncos’ top two offseason acquisitions, provided Mark Sanchez winds up as the backup quarterback. Okung’s signing came after the Broncos’ pay-cut negotiations with left tackle Ryan Clady became snagged. The Broncos are now trying to trade away Clady. That won’t be easy considering Clady is scheduled to make $9.5 million this season and $10 million in 2017. If the Broncos can’t swing a trade for Clady, he will likely be released prior to the team’s conditioning program that begins April 18. The signings of Okung and Stephenson also means the Broncos will move second-year offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo inside to guard where he will team with Max Garcia. Matt Paradis, who played every snap at center last season, will be the only returning starter along the Broncos’ offensive line.

Denver’s projected offensive line, from left to right in 2016: Okung, Garcia, Paradis, Sambrailo and Stephenson. Michael Schofield, who started 16 games at right tackle last season, will become a backup. James Ferentz, Sam Brenner and Dillon Day will compete for the backup interior jobs. “I’m very familiar with the scheme that they run," Okung said. "I’ve been running the zone scheme since I’ve been a rookie. I understand all the concepts and just everything that they have here. I hope I have something great to offer the team. Just in my understanding of the scheme and my level of play as well, too. I know these guys are a championship caliber team and I’m glad I could be a part of it.”

Broncos mailbag: Is Kaepernick the correct choice for the Denver Broncos? By Mike Klis 9News March 18, 2016 We are regulars for the 9 p.m. sports report. Brock is gone and according to John Elway's philosophy, "We only want players here that want to play for the Broncos.’’ Yet the GM is pursuing Colin Kaepernick who WANTS to play for Cleveland and obviously does NOT want to be a Bronco. Elway's pursuit of Kaepernick is an absolute contradiction to his philosophy. With some earlier negotiations with Brock, respect for him (and for ALL players instead of just Peyton ("take however long you want"), I believe there could have been a different outcome with Brock and some of our other outstanding players on Peyton's posse who have left town with ‘The Sheriff.’ - Ron Lundquist Ron — You realize you put parenthesis inside of parenthesis? That’s something I would do. In fact, I believe I did it once in a previous mailbag. I don’t believe Kaepernick wants to play Cleveland. It could be the Browns are the only team that is willing to keep his current contract as is. He is to get $14.3 million this year, $16.9 million in 2017 and $17.4 million in 2018. His cap hits are much higher but that’s still an affordable deal for a quarterback who has brought his team to two NFC Championship Games. There is a deadline in these Kaepernick sweepstakes and it is April 1. That’s when $11.9 million of his $14.3 million becomes fully guaranteed in 2016. It makes sense for Elway to wait to see if the 49ers release him so the Broncos won’t have to acquire Kaepernick’s cap-unfriendly contract while also surrendering a second-round draft pick to get him. Shock and awe for the Broncos with many key players opting to chase the money. But as you had eluded to a few weeks back, how much more is a couple million when one is already making millions? Your comment -- rich, or rich and happy --stuck with me. Yet, how much of the key departures are chasing the money and how much is it the Broncos’ front office? It would have been nice if "others" had followed the lead of Peyton Manning last season and DeMarcus Ware this coming season and took one for the team because they wanted to be in Denver. - G. Pen, Plainfield Illinois G. Pen - Well stated. I wasn’t surprised Malik Jackson took the extra $3 million a year and ran to Jacksonville. Jackson was at least honest in his desire to get paid. I was initially surprised Brock Osweiler took the money and went to Houston, but in retrospect it was easier to understand. I think he’s a Texan today not because of money but because he was unhappy with the Broncos. OK the money mattered some. If you’re a player, the best way to judge which team loves you the most is the team that offers you the most money. But if it was merely about the green, Osweiler would have given the Broncos a chance to match Houston’s final offer. He didn’t because his mind was already made up – he was gone.

The benching and switch to Manning in the regular-season finale against San Diego and during the Broncos’ postseason run, coupled with Denver taking its time to make Osweiler its first offer is what transformed Peyton’s heir apparent into Houston’s hired gun. Besides Manning and Ware, G. Pen, also give credit to Derek Wolfe and Chris Harris Jr. Wolfe and Harris no doubt would have got an extra million a year on the open market but they decided to re-up with the Broncos before hitting free agency. Just another armchair QB here. Do the Broncos have any interest in AJ McCarron? I knew of him in college because of the team (Crimson Tide) and school (Alabama) but didn't make an effort to follow him. But after watching him fill in this year I was very impressed with how he performed. I think he has been in the league two years sitting behind Dalton and learning from Hugh Jackson (the new hot QB whisperer). Just curious how come his name has not been mentioned? - Jason Gonzales Jason - You bet the Broncos are interested in AJ McCarron. He was impressive in relief of the injured Andy Dalton last season. He’s not mentioned as a possible Broncos’ quarterback candidate, though, because the Cincinnati Bengals would be insane to trade him away. As a fifth-round draft pick playing on his rookie contract, McCarron is ridiculously inexpensive with a $645,413 salary this year and $735,413 salary next year. It does appear through his four starts last season he can play in this league. The Bengals, who have reached the AFC playoffs five consecutive seasons, aren’t about to help the Broncos solve their quarterback problem. Even if the Broncos offered the preposterous sum of two, first-round draft picks, I don’t think the Bengals would trade over McCarron. Not with the Broncos’ first-round selection happening until No. 31 overall. Even if Marvin Lewis doesn’t know how to win a playoff game, the Bengals believe they can win the Super Bowl this season. How would it look if McCarron’s Broncos knocked off Lewis’ Bengals in the playoffs? I enjoy your Bronco's reports, they very informative. I don't want to be too much of a "homer", but I would like to bring up a "young" QB prospect that I feel has some great potential and should be invited to the Broncos’ camp -- Brett Smith, the former University of Wyoming quarterback who left school early on bad advice, but has been paying his dues and is presently a backup QB for the SAS Roughriders. He played in 3 games last year for the Roughriders and won all three. He is 24, has good passing and running skills, and attended the Manning Brothers camps twice. Thank You -- Go Pokes! - Jerry Soukup Jerry - I met Smith and his dad at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana in 2012. Good kid. Smith could really spin it, as they say. He threw 56 touchdown passes against just 17 interceptions along with more than 800 rushing yards in his sophomore and junior seasons combined at Wyoming. While I, too, was surprised by his decision to leave before his senior season -- he is a tad small at 6-1, 205 pounds -- I can see where Smith felt he had already put up enough good tape for scouts.

After going undrafted, Smith has played in the Arena League and two Canadian Football League teams and did finish strong last summer for Saskatchewan, passing for 1,822 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Let’s see if Smith can start a full season with Saskatchewan, watch him closely, and then maybe he can find a place in the fall league next year. Emmanuel and DT. Tell them if Mark Sanchez happens, they need to look for work elsewhere (or get really good at blocking!). - Dennis DeJulio Dennis - Patience, Dennis, patience! I think Sanchez is a nice guy to have in your back pocket. I’ve always liked him. I’ve also wondered why he hasn’t been a little better. I know it’s knack for killer turnovers but why does he commit so many? Here’s the deal: The Broncos just won a Super Bowl with a quarterback who threw 9 touchdown passes against 17 interceptions. Sanchez was never that bad. Sanchez won four playoff games on the road in his first two NFL seasons. He’s a better quarterback now. He hasn’t won like he did his first two years, but there are other factors involved in winning. Like a strong running game and terrific defense. But I would agree with your implication, Dennis, that Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are the Broncos’ top two offensive players. All the talk about the Broncos improving their running game in 2016 is nice, so long as it means opening up bigger plays in their passing game. Personally, I’m embarrassed by the Denver Broncos and John Elway. While it is very true Peyton Manning is a hero, whatever happen to John Elway and any member of the Denver Bronco's acknowledging Brock Osweiler's contribution to the success of the year! At NO time before or after winning the Super Bowl did ANY member of the team or for that matter the news media acknowledge that if Brock didn't step in during the year, they would NOT have even been at the Super Bowl! All the celebration, and never even a mention the name of a key person that stepped in to help attain success! I don't blame Brock for leaving! A town that doesn't even acknowledge his contribution! Brock definitely contributed to the team’s success! I'm embarrassed for Denver! I wouldn't play for a team that totally lost its manners! - John Chalupa John - Minding my manners, I will try to put this as politely as possible. To hell with Brock. Seriously, John, there’s been so much concern about how Osweiler didn’t get enough credit, he’s almost received too much credit. (Which reminds me, by any chance do you remember former Oakland A’s left fielder Joe Rudi? The Game of the Week announcers would say every single game, year after year, how underrated Joe Rudi was. He was a career .264 hitter. He was so underrated he was overrated. (And this is from someone who really liked Joe Rudi!))

Elway and Gary Kubiak stated repeatedly after Osweiler was benched for Manning how much they appreciated Osweiler’s contributions. And we printed them. The problem was, the axiom is true: Actions speak louder than words. Kubiak praised Osweiler all the way to the bench. But don’t forget, Kubiak was also the first coach to play Osweiler. Kubiak played Osweiler just enough to show off his strengths but not enough to overly expose his flaws. This is why a quarterback with 7 NFL starts got a contract that will pay him $21 million this year. Osweiler’s a good kid. Great guy. I do hope he succeeds with Houston. I think he can develop into a top 12-15 quarterback in this league. But a case can be made he’s the luckiest guy on earth. He doesn’t need any more credit. I don't mind our UFA's going to greener pastures for more green. However, isn't Malik Jackson just full of it when he says we could of had The Big (overpaid) Three back for "next to nothing"? I remember Malik consistently saying that he's worked his whole life for this year (before this season). He never sounded like a "next to nothing" guy. The funny thing is that the only way he's ever coming close to living up to that contract is with Von and Derek lined up alongside him. He was always worth the most to us but never 42 million guaranteed. But that's Jacksonville's problem now. I think I'll always be on board with the El-way of doing things. Now let's go dominate the draft again. - Art Mensing San Antonio, TX Art - You gotta love this mailbag. Malik is correct in saying the Broncos could have re-signed him earlier for a much lower rate. But let’s remember one little detail about the business of football: The risk of injury is relatively high. Back in 2012, a certain local sportswriter (cough! cough!) began an article about left tackle Ryan Clady’s contract situation like this: “Pay the man!’’ The Broncos did give Clady a five-year, $52.5 million extension prior to the 2013 season. And he’s played 19 of the 55 games since – a mere 34.5 percent. Last year, we all thought the Broncos had no choice but to pay big money to Demaryius Thomas. He wound up with a deal so rich, he grossed $22 million last season. And there was a decline in performance. I’m no sports psychologist but I have found a player’s performance is generally better when chasing the carrot then after he gets it. What would it take to move up to a spot to draft Paxton Lynch and is it that even a realistic idea. I know that it really depends on what happens that day. - Laurie Eisenhart Laurie - If Lynch gets by the Bears at No. 11, the Rams at No. 15, the Jets at No. 20, the Chiefs at No. 28 or Cardinals at No. 29, he could be there for the Broncos at No. 31. I’m not sure what the Broncos think of the 6-foot-6 prospect from Memphis. If they really, really like him, they would have the ammunition to package some draft picks and move up into the early 20s pick range.

Recent trend says Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott is the Broncos’ quarterback. Three weeks before the 2014 draft, Bradley Roby was cited for driving under the influence. He became the Broncos’ selection at No. 31 overall. Three days before the 2015 draft, Shane Ray was cited for having marijuana in his car. The Broncos traded up from No. 28 to No. 23 to take him. Five days ago, with the 2016 draft less than seven weeks away, Prescott was cited for driving under the influence. We’ll have to see how Kaepernick and Ryan Fitzpatrick shake out before determining whether the Broncos are in the first-round quarterback market but it can be assumed Prescott has not been taken off the Big Board at UCHealth Training Center for character reasons. Hi Mike: How did Peyton Manning get the nickname “The Sheriff”? - Howard Davis Howard - It was during a Monday Night Football game in 2009, when color commentator Jon Gruden hung the nickname, ‘The Sheriff’, on Manning. I remember watching that game, although I not necessarily because of “The Sheriff.” I mean, it’s not all that clever. Gruden does have the type of profound, pregnant-pause delivery, though, that made it stick. What I remember about that game is the underdog Miami Dolphins held the ball for more than 45 minutes and Manning’s Indianapolis Colts had it for less than 15 minutes. Yet, Manning made the most of his opportunities, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 completions in a 27-23 win. One reason why the Colts didn’t have the ball very long is Manning threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Clark on the first play of the game. Those one play, 80-yard drives are always time of possession killers.

Broncos award C.J. Anderson big contract, raise their expectations By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 18, 2016 After the Denver Broncos took virtually every minute of the allotted five days to decide running back C.J. Anderson’s football fate, they gave Anderson what he had hoped to receive. The Broncos matched a four-year, $18 million offer sheet from the Miami Dolphins and made Anderson one of the highest-paid players at his position. Anderson stays with the team he has called home for his four NFL seasons. And he gets to be the running back in an offense determined to get better running the ball next season. But the Broncos also handed Anderson something else in the deal -- a far bigger pile of expectations. “I think that anybody … they’re getting paid the money and C.J.’s contract, what he’s getting paid in his contract, the expectations always go up,’’ Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway said. “That’s what I told C.J. ‘You know what? The expectations of you as a leader as well as somebody that is a part of this organization, all those expectations go up.’ With the rise in pay also goes the rise in expectations, and I think C.J. understands that and he’s ready to handle that.’’ When the Broncos elected to match the Dolphins’ offer sheet -- they had originally tendered Anderson without compensation if they had elected not to match any offer he received -- they did it with the idea that they just might ask Anderson to do something he hasn’t done since he left junior college. While Anderson did lead the Broncos in rushing attempts in 2014, it was done with 179 carries, a fairly modest total that tied Anderson for 20th in the league. Since arriving at Cal in 2011 through the Broncos Super Bowl season of 2015, Anderson has not topped those 179 carries, or 11.2 per game, in any season. He has not had a 1,000-yard rushing season or started more than seven games in any of those seasons. “My expectations are higher than [Elway’s], I promise you that,’’ Anderson said this week. “I’ll leave it right there.’’ Anderson has played well in big moments with plays like his 45-yard touchdown run in overtime against the New England Patriots this past season to go with 90 yards rushing in the Super Bowl 50 win. He has finished runs with purpose, kept drives moving and showed he could transition from the offense the Broncos played when he arrived as an undrafted rookie in 2013 to the offense coach Gary Kubiak installed this past season. But questions about conditioning or why he seemed to run better coming off the bench have trailed him -- in the regular season in 2015 both his 100-yard efforts were in games he did not start. His big-time stretch run in 2014, that included back-to-back games when the topped 160 yards, came after he had

dropped to No. 3 on the depth chart earlier that year and only after Montee Ball as well as Ronnie Hillman were injured. Now Anderson’s contract makes him The Guy in the run game. How he arrives to the team’s offseason program in mid-April will offer at least a first glimpse at his readiness for that. “People still think you can’t do it, I can’t be the bell cow back, I can’t stay healthy,’’ Anderson said. “ … Again, the best motivation is when I came in four years ago I told [running backs coach Eric Studesville] that I wanted to be the best to ever do it. I want to be one of the best running backs to ever play the game. To be up there with some of those guys and some of those guys in the Hall of Fame, you’ve got to go to work every day.’’ With Hillman an unrestricted free agent and not expected back, Anderson leads a running back group that includes Juwan Thompson, Kapri Bibbs and Cyrus Gray. The Broncos will keep an eye on the available free agents as their offseason work gets closer and with 10 picks in the April draft, the expectation is if they see the right back, they’ll use at least one selection at the position. But in the end Anderson has consistently said he believes he’s ready to be the No. 1 back and now the Broncos appear to have finally agreed. “I think I can do it. I mean, I know I can do it,’’ Anderson said. “It’s not like I haven’t done it before. I’ve done it before … I’ve got a running backs coach that’s not going to let up or let me breathe when it comes to being successful, believe that. He knows just how strong and hardheaded I am to be successful. He’s going to be on that, too. We’ll get it done.’’

Russell Okung's arrival probably spells end of Ryan Clady's time with Broncos By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com March 18, 2016 The Denver Broncos' decision-makers have promised over and over again that the offensive line is a priority this offseason. When John Elway arrived to the scouting combine last month, he said it was the position group where he had spent most of his time to that point. It has certainly come to pass in word and deed, as the Broncos' two major signings thus far in free agency have been offensive linemen. The second arrived in rather splashy fashion Thursday when tackle Russell Okung agreed to terms with the Broncos on a five-year deal that will average just over $10.6 million per season, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson. Okung joins former Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard Donald Stephenson as the Broncos' two additions in free agency to this point. They also acquired quarterback Mark Sanchez in a trade. It also likely spells the end for the longest-tenured Broncos player on the roster, Ryan Clady. The Broncos were actively shopping Clady in the trade market Thursday, and if no suitor is found they will consider releasing him. It all comes in the wake of unsuccessful attempts to rework Clady's deal. Clady said as the 2015 season drew to a close he would be willing to redo his deal if it meant he could stay. Before Okung's scheduled visit this week, the Broncos had been actively talking to Clady's representatives to lower his base salary and the salary-cap charge ($10.1 million) for the coming season. Clady has two years remaining on the deal. The increased interest in Okung was an indication things had reached an impasse with Clady. Clady was the Broncos' first-round pick in 2008, Mike Shanahan's final draft as the team's coach. But the Broncos need cap room to add Okung to the roster and to continue to do their offseason business in the coming weeks. They will also probably need roughly $6 million worth of room to account for their 10 picks in next month's draft. The Broncos finished a reworking of DeMarcus Ware's deal this past weekend to create room to match the Miami Dolphins' offer sheet to running back C.J. Anderson. The 28-year-old Okung, who had also drawn interest from the Detroit Lions, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, was the No. 6 pick of the 2010 draft and has been named to one Pro Bowl in his career. He immediately projects to be the Broncos' starting left tackle with Stephenson at right tackle, and Stephenson could play guard if needed as well. Okung has never started 16 games in a season over the course of his career but started 13 last season for the Seattle Seahawks. Ty Sambailo, who started at left tackle in the Broncos' first three games in place of Clady last season, is a player the Broncos believe could play at guard as well. The Broncos could be looking at a line that

includes Okung and either Stephenson or Sambrailo at the two tackle spots with Max Garcia paired with Stephenson or Sambrailo at guard to go with Matt Paradis at center. The Broncos have already turned over three starters on the offensive line with the release of guard Louis Vasquez, Ryan Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Evan Mathis (Arizona Cardinals) leaving in free agency. The Broncos will also continue to take a long look at a deep group of tackles in the draft. But this turnover was the one given of this Broncos offseason, even as they waited for a decision from Peyton Manning and went on the hunt for new quarterbacks. As Gary Kubiak said, "We feel like it's one of the places we want to improve, but we also feel like the group we put together is going to play well and do the things we need to get done."

Colin Kaepernick likely still 49er on April 1, but will still be shopped By Staff ESPN.com March 18, 2016 With trade talks around Colin Kaepernick cooling, the San Francisco 49ers are expected to keep the quarterback on their roster past April 1, the date his $11.9 million base salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. But the team will still look to trade Kaepernick before or during the April 28-30 draft, sources tell Schefter. Kaepernick's agents requested permission from the 49ers on Feb. 26 to seek a trade for their client. Last week, the Broncos, Jets and Browns each expressed interest in Kaepernick, but a league source told Schefter that nothing was imminent. Kaepernick, 28, is under contract through the 2020 season as part of the six-year, $114 million contract he signed in 2014. Wednesday, at San Jose State's pro day, new 49ers coach Chip Kelly said he has talked with Kaepernick as recently as Tuesday but that conversations were primarily about the quarterback's health. He noted that league rules prohibit coaches from talking to players about football matters until players report for organized team activities, which begin for the 49ers on April 4. At Stanford's pro day Thursday, Kelly said: "I'd love to have him. I'm a big Kap fan."

Proposed rule says QBs can't fall to ground, still pass By Kevin Seifert ESPN.com March 18, 2016 Retired quarterback Peyton Manning's legacy could extend in at least one unusual direction. The Kansas City Chiefs have proposed an NFL rule change designed to outlaw one of the best plays Manning made in his final season. The Chiefs want the NFL to change its illegal forward pass rules to include instances when a quarterback throws a pass after his body has touched the ground (other than with his feet or hands) while the ball was in his possession. The proposal references Manning's fourth-quarter play in the Denver Broncos' 23-16 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round of the 2015 playoffs. With his Broncos trailing 13-12 at the time, Manning went to the ground to avoid contact with blitzing cornerback Will Allen. When he realized that Allen never touched him, Manning stood up and threw a 34-yard pass to receiver Emmanuel Sanders. If the Chiefs' rule proposal had been on the books at the time, Manning would have been penalized for an illegal forward pass. In the proposal, the Chiefs reasoned that defenders "let up" when they see a quarterback on the ground. As the rule stands, according to the Chiefs, quarterbacks have an incentive to "play dead" to give their team an advantage. The NFL's competition committee did not endorse the proposal, which gives it little chance of being approved by the league's full ownership. It will be discussed at the owners meetings next week in Boca Raton, Florida.

Broncos bolster O-line with Russell Okung By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press March 18, 2016 John Elway bolstered both his offensive line and his already strong reputation as one of the NFL's best general managers Thursday by luring former Seattle Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung to the Denver Broncos. Okung, who represented himself in negotiations, drew heavy interest in the free agent market. His choice of Denver shows Elway can still attract a marquee free agent even without Peyton Manning as a selling point. "Honestly, it's a great organization and I think there are only a few top organizations in the NFL," said Okung, who had anchored the Seahawks' line for the last six seasons. "Denver is obviously one of those. The class and integrity, it goes with the organization and speaks volumes. I wanted to be a part of a place that did that." Selected by Seattle with the sixth pick in the 2010 draft out of Oklahoma State, Okung started 72 regular-season games and a dozen playoff contests for the Seahawks. He was a Pro Bowler in 2012. Okung's 20 sacks allowed in his career rank as the fewest in the league among tackles who have started at least half of their team's games in each season since 2010. Okung injured a shoulder in the Seahawks' playoff loss to Carolina. He said it feels fine and he should be ready to practice in May or June. He also said he expects to seamlessly slide right into coach Gary Kubiak's run-blocking scheme. "I'm very familiar with the scheme that they run. I've been running the zone scheme since I've been a rookie," he said. "I understand all the concepts and just everything that they have here. I hope I have something great to offer the team. Just in my understanding of the scheme and my level of play as well, too. I know these guys are a championship caliber team and I'm glad I could be a part of it." Okung said he looks forward to facing Pro Bowl pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware in training camp, too. "I know they'll be coming at me, but I'll be coming at them as well, too," Okung said. "Those guys are very talented. They're great players and they're going to go down in history as some of the best Broncos players to ever play. To me, this is an opportunity to for our group to get better and to keep challenging ourselves to be the best offensive line in the league." Okung's arrival likely means Ryan Clady, 29, the longest tenured Broncos player, will be on his way out — and Seattle could be a landing spot for the four-time Pro Bowler. He's set to make $9.5 million in 2016 and $10 million in 2017. But he's made just 18 starts over the last three seasons and missed all of last year with a torn ACL.

The Broncos also added tackle Donald Stephenson in free agency and have let go of veteran O-linemen Ryan Harris, Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez. The Broncos have been busy remaking their team since winning Super Bowl 50. They celebrated Manning's retirement, then watched his groomed successor, Brock Osweiler, sign with Houston. They also said so long to defensive lineman Malik Jackson, whose six-year, $90 million contract is the biggest in free agency this year, linebacker Danny Trevathan and safety David Bruton Jr. They cut tight end Owen Daniels and long snapper Aaron Brewer in addition to Vasquez. They've added the two linemen, quarterback Mark Sanchez through a trade with the Eagles, and matched Miami's offer sheet to running back C.J. Anderson. Elway has called Sanchez's addition the first step. He'll likely add another veteran QB either through a trade or free agency and will almost certainly select one in the draft next month. Asked what the Broncos told him about their quarterback situation, Okung said: "They told me enough. They told me what I needed to hear." While many fans have been fretting over the losses in free agency, Okung said the moves Elway has made gives him confidence the Broncos can compete for another ring next year. "No cause for pause," Okung said. "They made a good decision in bringing me in. You make decisions like that, you're headed the right way."

Extra point, chop block and replay on NFL owners' agenda By Barry Wilner Associated Press March 18, 2016 The NFL's powerful competition committee is recommending making permanent extra-point kick snaps from the 15-yard line, eliminating all chop blocks and ejecting a player for twice receiving certain unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game. When NFL owners meet next week in Florida, they also will consider such proposals as moving the line of scrimmage up 5 yards to the 25 on kickoff touchbacks, allowing coaches and players to use video rather than just photos on sideline tablets, and expanding the penalties on horse-collar tackles to cover the nameplate on the uniform. Among the rule proposals that teams will present Monday through Wednesday are several involving video review: allowing three coaches' challenges instead of two even when one challenge fails, expanding what can be challenged to include everything but turnovers and scores, and eliminating overtime in preseason games. Not being altered is what constitutes a catch, a subject that often infuriates players and fans but is not part of any proposals this year. Instead, according to Troy Vincent, the league's football operations chief, the emphasis will be on education and enforcement of the three current catch rule considerations: gaining possession, getting two feet down inbounds, and player safety. After Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested during Super Bowl week that player ejections for two egregious fouls would be considered, the committee is suggesting that specific unsportsmanlike conduct penalties could lead to expulsions. Those are: — Throwing a punch or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made. — Using abusive, threatening or insulting language, or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials or representatives of the league. — Using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams. Under such changes, Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wouldn't automatically have been ejected despite drawing three unnecessary roughness calls in scuffles with Panthers All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman late last season. But officials don't need to judge fouls as flagrant for an automatic disqualification. And it won't necessarily take two fouls for a player to be tossed.

"We do believe officials should be empowered and should not feel ejection is not an appropriate remedy ... when there is a flagrant foul," said committee co-chairman Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons. EXTRA POINTS The league was so satisfied with moving the line of scrimmage on PAT kicks to the 15 that the committee now wants to remove the temporary tag. The rate of success dropped from 99.3 percent to 94.2 percent in 2015, with 71 misses during the regular season. A miss by New England All-Pro Stephen Gostkowski in the AFC championship game was costly in the Patriots' loss. CHOP BLOCKS McKay noted a complete elimination of the play is warranted. "We don't get a lot of injuries per year, but we think the (vulnerable) position the player is in doesn't appear to be fair, that he is subject to a low block when he is engaged with a player," he said. "We don't see this as something that will drastically affect the rushing game." McKay noted that eliminating chop blocks in college football in 2008 did not negatively impact running attacks. TOUCHBACKS As it continues attempts to curtail kickoff runbacks, which the league considers a particularly injury-prone play, the committee seeks to encourage downing the ball in the end zone on kickoffs. "We think colleges have done this very successfully," McKay said. "It sends the right motivation to when the ball is 9 yards deep, maybe take a knee" and get the ball at the 25 instead of the 20. TECHNOLOGY The use of game photos on Surface tablets on the sidelines has worked so well that the next logical step could be letting players and coaches review videos. "It allows for more efficiency to evaluate opponents' positions and schemes during games," McKay said. "We've slowly introduced this technology with our partner, Microsoft. Now we are moving to on-field video." COACHES CHALLENGES Several teams have dived into this area with proposals. Minnesota and Washington want an increase to three challenges, Baltimore is seeking three challenges and expansion of what is reviewable, and Buffalo is suggesting challenges to any official's decision except scoring plays and turnovers. The Redskins also want personal foul penalties to be reviewable.

ALSO The Chiefs want the NFL to emulate the college rule that prohibits quarterbacks from falling to the ground, getting up and throwing a forward pass, as Peyton Manning successfully did in a playoff win over Pittsburgh. Carolina seeks an expansion of what constitutes intentional grounding. The competition committee proposes allowing offensive and defensive play callers to use the coach-to-player communication system regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches' booth. Now, they must be on the sideline.

Russell Okung joins Broncos after negotiating own contract By Tom Pelissero USA Today March 18, 2016 The deal Russell Okung negotiated himself will take him to Denver for at least one year, and he surely hopes more. The Broncos announced Thursday they’ve agreed to terms with Okung on a deal that a person with knowledge of negotiations told USA TODAY Sports is a one-year, $5 million contract with a four-year, $48 million team option. Okung can earn another $3 million in playtime incentives in 2016, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because details were the remain private. If the Broncos exercise the option, $20.5 million would become fully guaranteed. The $12 million average over those four years – or $10.6 million over the full deal, $11.2 million with incentives – would put Okung, 28, among the NFL’s highest-paid offensive linemen. But Okung’s performance as he comes off shoulder surgery will determine whether he sees any of that money. The structure of the deal is sure to be scrutinized heavily, because Okung set himself up as a trailblazer for players who want to negotiate their own deals. He retained former agent Jimmy Halsell as an advisor and also had help from the NFL Players Association. On a media conference call, Okung acknowledged the contract is "a bit intricate" and said he wants to be in Denver for long haul. "I got the deal that I wanted," Okung said. Okung visited the New York Giants, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. The San Francisco 49ers reached out to the 6-foot-5, 310-pound left tackle as well. But Okung opted to sign with the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos, who now are likely to trade their incumbent left tackle, Ryan Clady. The sixth overall pick in the 2010 draft, Okung spent his first six NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, starting 72 games and winning a Super Bowl after the 2013 season. He’s coming off shoulder surgery.

Broncos sign Russell Okung to a five-year, incentive-based contract By Sean Wagner-McGough CBSSports.com March 18, 2016 Russell Okung, the agent, just secured a new contract for Russell Okung, the left tackle. Okung, who represented himself during free agency as opposed to hiring an agent, signed a five-year contract with the Broncos, as ESPN's Josina Anderson first reported. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora provided confirmation of the deal (along with the Broncos), as well as more financial details. For Okung, 28, it's an incentive-based contract. @JasonLaCanfora Russell Okung's deal with Denver is essentially 2 contracts in one. He gets $5M guaranteed for 2016 w/chance to make up to $8M in incentives @JasonLaCanfora Then Denver has a window after the season to opt to pick up an option for a 4yr deal (2017-2020) worth $12M/year w/$20.5M guaranteed... @JasonLaCanfora Deal provides opportunity to be worth up to $10.6M/yr if Okung can stay healthy and produce this season. He had 1yr offer from DET on table And that likely means Ryan Clady won't return to Denver. The Broncos had reportedly approached Clady about taking a paycut, but the two sides reportedly couldn't agree to a restructured deal. Now, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team will try to trade Clady, who has a cap hit of over $10 million for each of the last two years on his contract. Clady is also coming off a torn ACL that he suffered last May. Per La Canfora, that trade will be difficult to engineer. @JasonLaCanfora Okung signing signals end of Clady in Den. His release likely to come. Hard to see a trade there. If any LT gets dealt, my $ on Joe Thomas In Okung, the Broncos are acquiring another oft-injured left tackle, though he clearly has the talent to function as a high-quality player. Per Pro Football Reference, Okung has never played in all 16 games of a single season. Still, the Seahawks' former first-round pick was clearly desired on the market. Now, the Broncos just need to figure out who Okung will be protecting next season.

Here's who needs to step up on every NFL team after free-agency frenzy By Pete Prisco CBSSports.com March 18, 2016 Every NFL team, even those that spent big in free agency, has a handful of players who will need to step it up in 2016. Some of these players were just signed as free agents last week. Some will be getting their chances to show what they can do because a free agent left or another player was traded. And others will get their chance because their teams didn't fill the need in free agency, leaving it to them take over. That got me thinking about some of the step-up players who need to come through in 2016. Some teams have several, others not as many. But they all have a few. So here's a list of step-up players for each NFL team, and for some it's an entire positional group. Arizona Cardinals Defensive end Chandler Jones: They traded a second-round pick and guard Jonathan Cooper to get him, even though he can become an unrestricted free agent next year. But that's how badly they wanted to improve their pass rush. Jones isn't a dynamic edge rusher with explosive speed, but he is a good, solid pass rusher who will upgrade their pass rush. He had 12.5 sacks last season. Can he get to 14 sacks? That should be the target number. Atlanta Falcons Mohamed Sanu, WR: The Falcons let Roddy White go and replaced him with Sanu, who is getting $6.5 million per season on a five-year deal. That's pricy for a player who had 33 catches last season. But this is Sanu's chance to show he can do more as the No. 2 option since he was the third option in Cincinnati behind A.J. Green and Marvin Jones. The Falcons must believe he can get to 70 catches or so and back to his 2014 average of 14.1 yards per catch. Baltimore Ravens Breshad Perriman, WR: He didn't play a down after being a first-round pick. A PCL injury kept him off the field, but the Ravens are expecting big things this year. He can fly, and they need that speed on offense. He has to become their big-play passing threat -- right away. Even with the signing of Mike Wallace, it's on Perriman to become the deep threat. Buffalo Bills Jerry Hughes, DE: He is their best pass rusher, really their only outside pass rusher, but he didn't have the type of season many expected in 2015. His sack total of five was way below what the Bills expected. Now with Mario Williams gone, he has to get that number to double-digits in 2016.

Carolina Panthers Kony Ealy, DE: We saw his potential on display in the Super Bowl when he had three sacks and intercepted a pass. Now he has to do it week in and week out. With Jared Allen retiring, Ealy now should take over as a full-time starter. The Super Bowl showed what he's capable of doing. Chicago Bears Jeremy Langford, RB: With Matt Forte gone, he's now the starting running back. When Forte was out last year, Langford did some really good things. He finished with 537 yards rushing, but just 3.6 per rush. That has to be better. He did have an 83-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass, so there is big-play ability. Cincinnati Bengals Cedric Ogbuehi, OT: The Bengals have high hopes for him, and players and coaches raved about his practice habits and the little playing time he got last season. With Andre Smith moving on, he is expected to be the right tackle. Eventually, he will likely move to the left side when Andrew Whitworth's career is done. He played both right and left tackle in college. Cleveland Browns Cameron Erving, OL: He started four games last year, two each at left and right guard, and was overmatched. He struggled with strong power players and clearly needs to get stronger. But this 2015 first-round pick can also play center, which I think is his best position. He would move inside for the departed Alex Mack. Wherever he plays, he needs to get stronger. Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Lawrence, DE: I expected him to have his breakout season in 2015, and he came close with eight sacks. With Randy Gregory suspended for four games and Greg Hardy not expected back, Lawrence has to be even better. This has to be the year he gets to double-digit sacks for a Cowboys team that needs a dominant edge rusher. He did have a back surgery after the season. Denver Broncos C.J. Anderson, RB: They matched the offer sheet Miami gave to him as a restricted free agent, which means he's making $6 million this year, including his guaranteed signing bonus. That's a lot of money. With the quarterback issues, the running game will need to be even more a part of the offense than last season. Anderson has to show he's worth that money. I wonder if he is. Detroit Lions Marvin Jones, WR: As unfair as it is, he will be viewed as the guy who replaced Calvin Johnson. That's not realistic since Johnson is a potential Hall of Fame player, while Jones has never been more than a No. 2 receiver. But the Lions will need him to play more like a No. 1. His yards-per-catch has to be better than the 12.6 yards from a year ago with the Bengals.

Green Bay Packers Letroy Guion, NT: With B.J. Raji deciding to take a year off rather than accept a new contract from the Packers, it means there's a big hole in the middle of the Green Bay defense. Guion will likely move over from end to nose, his more natural spot. Mike Pennel could also be in the mix, but he's suspended for the first four games. Houston Texans Tony Bergstrom, Greg Mancz, C: With Ben Jones signing with the Titans, the Texans quickly locked up Bergstrom from the Raiders. He is a converted tackle who has played guard and center. There's also Mancz, who was an undrafted rookie last season who made the team and then was placed on IR in November with a knee injury. One of these two will have to come up big in the middle of the Texans' line. Indianapolis Colts Denzelle Good, RT: This 2015 seventh-round pick out of Mars Hill is a player some in the Colts organization think will solve their right tackle problem for a long time. He started four games at right tackle last year and did some good things. He has a chance to be a good player. Jacksonville Jaguars Dante Fowler, DE: They tried to land Olivier Vernon in free agency to help the edge rush, but he opted for the Giants. That means Fowler, their 2015 first-round pick, who missed the entire season with an ACL injury, will have to be ready to be an impact player in 2016. That means 10 sacks, not five. He's all they have. Kansas City Chiefs Philip Gaines, CB: He went into last season as the starter, but tore an ACL in the third game. Now with Sean Smith gone to Oakland in free agency, the Chiefs badly need him to get back to where he can either start or be the team's nickel corner. They have one good corner Marcus Peters, but need someone else to step up. Gaines is the likely candidate if he's back from the knee. Los Angeles Rams E.J. Gaines, CB: He was an impressive rookie starter in 2014, but suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in camp last summer and missed the season. With Janoris Jenkins gone to the Giants in free agency, the Rams will be looking to Gaines to re-gain his 2014 form opposite Trumaine Johnson. Miami Dolphins Mario Williams, DE: They made the decision not to pay Olivier Vernon and go cheaper with the veteran Williams. That's risky based on how Williams played last season. He took a lot of plays off. He has to be more focused this year. If he is, he could get back to being a double-digit sack guy after having five last season.

Minnesota Vikings CB Trae Waynes: He flashed late last season, played well in the playoff loss to Seattle, and has a chance to be a starter this season. The Vikings t agreed to a deal with veteran Terence Newman, who started last year. There is a chance Waynes can take his job -- or at least more time. They drafted Waynes in the first round in 2015 for a reason. New England Patriots Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom, DE: They traded Chandler Jones, their best pass rusher, to the Cardinals Tuesday, which means they must have faith in these two second-year players. Grissom played in 14 games and had one sack as a rookie. Flowers played in one game and then was put on IR midway through the season with shoulder and knee injuries. But he looked good in the preseason. The Patriots still have Jabaal Sheard and Rob Ninkovich as starters, and added Chris Long on a one-year deal, but these two need to come on strong. New Orleans Saints Brandon Coleman, WR: With Marques Colston gone, this could be his time to emerge as a big-play receiver. He led all Saints receivers with a per-catch average of 15.1 yards. Brandon Cooks and Willie Snead are smaller receivers, which is why Coleman might be the guy to have his breakout season. He had games where he flashed last season, but he would disappear. He needs to be more consistent and cut down on the drops. New York Giants Bobby Hart, OL: This 2015 seventh-round pick saw time in as a rookie at guard and started one game at right tackle and flashed some potential. He just turned 21, so he's still a baby but the Giants might have a player who can take the next step to being a full-time starter at one of the two spots in 2015, preferably right tackle. New York Jets Steve McClendon, NT: They lost Damon Harrison to the Giants in free agency, and got a solid run stuffer in McClendon for a much cheaper deal. He's been a solid player in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, but he is following a heck of a player in Harrison. The pressure is on him to hold up in the run game. Oakland Raiders Ben Heeney, MLB: This 2015 fifth-round pick is being projected to be the starter this season after impressing late last season. With Curtis Lofton cut, the Raiders are counting on big things from Heeney. He had 17 tackles in the final three weeks of the season, including nine against San Diego. He isn't big, but he proved to be a solid playmaker. They will need more from him in 2016 Philadelphia Eagles

Nelson Agholor, WR: The Eagles expected big things from Agholor as a rookie last season, but he had just 23 catches and 44 targets. He was targeted eight times in the last two games, though. With Riley Cooper gone, expect Agholor to up those numbers into the 60-catch range. Pittsburgh Steelers Senquez Golson, CB: His rookie season was wiped out by a shoulder injury, but the Steelers expect him to compete for a starting job this season. Better yet, they need him to win it. He can either play outside or line up in the slot, which would seem to be his best spot. The Steelers have had corner issues for a while, and they drafted Golson in the second round with the idea he could become a quality starter. San Diego Chargers Adrian Phillips, FS: Who? He has two starts in his career, but had a pick of Brock Osweiler in one of those starts, playing when Eric Weddle was hurt. With Weddle gone to Baltimore, Philips might get his chance to start, even though the Chargers signed veteran Dwight Lowery. San Francisco 49ers Eli Harold, OLB: They have a good, young player on one side with Aaron Lynch and there is a chance Ahmad Brooks could still be let go. Harold started one game as a rookie and flashed in his time on the field, even if he didn't get a sack. With a year in the weight program, he should be stronger and ready for more. They will need him to step up if Brooks is let go. Seattle Seahawks Thomas Rawls, RB: With Marshawn Lynch gone, Rawls is now the feature back. He showed well when he played last year, but now he's the man. He has to continue to play well for an entire season. Remember, he is coming off a broken ankle suffered late last season. Seattle wants to run the ball, and he is expected to be the guy. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick a corner, any corner: Their secondary play was awful last season. They signed Brent Grimes and Josh Robinson in free agency. Jude Adjei-Barimah, who started seven games last season, is also a possibility. Veterans Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks are also in the mix. Somebody has to become a quality player outside. Somebody has to step up. Tennessee Titans Dorial Green-Beckham, WR: Yes, they signed Rishard Matthews, but Green-Beckham is the guy who has the ability to be a big-play star for the Titans. He caught just 32 passes, but averaged 17.2 yards per catch. Inconsistency showed up as a rookie in 2015, but he flashed some impressive talent too. He should develop into Marcus Mariota's top target this year. Washington Redskins Matt Jones, RB: Alfred Morris is still not signed yet, but it appears the Redskins have moved on. That means it could be time for Jones, who did some good things last year, to step up as the lead back. They like to use a committee in the backfield, but Jones would appear to be the guy who will take the first snaps.

Report: 49ers close to keeping Colin Kaepernick as trade value plunges By Nunzio Ingrassia FoxSports.com March 18, 2016 It looks more and more likely that Chip Kelly will get a chance to coach Colin Kapernick after all. The San Francisco 49ers have shopped Kapernick but apparently don't like what teams are offering and now are leaning toward keeping the fifth-year QB, CSNBayArea,com reported Thursday. "There's a good chance he's still on the team the way things look now," a source told the outlet. According to the same source, the Broncos, Browns and Jets — teams that are in need of quarterback help — haven't been aggressive in trying to trade for Kaepernick, who will receive $11.9 million for next season if he's still on the roster on April 1. Kaepernick regressed badly last season, throwing for 1,615 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. The team went 2-6 with him starting. He's rehabbing from surgeries on his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee. While others speculate whether Kaepernick wants to remain in San Francisco or if the 49ers still want him as their quarterback, Kelly is publicly committed to him. Kelly said he talked to Kaepernick earlier this week and is staying hopeful the mobile quarterback will still be on San Francisco's roster when the offseason program begins April 4. "I'd love to have him. I'm a big Kap fan," Kelly said Thursday after Stanford's pro day. Last month, Kelly professed his commitment to Kaepernick during the NFL combine, only to have reports emerge soon after that saying the quarterback's agents had asked general manager Trent Baalke to be traded from San Francisco. The agents haven't responded to multiple inquiries from The Associated Press. Kelly said he never has gotten that indication from Kaepernick directly. "That was his agents talking to Trent," Kelly said. "I've never been privy to that kind of stuff. I talked to Kap two days ago. A really good conversation. There's a business side of this game. Whatever that it, that is. But if he's here on the 4th, we'll be ready to go." Kaepernick went 2-6 in eight starts last season before being benched, raising questions whether the quarterback who led San Francisco to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season was still the man to lead the team. After that early success of the Super Bowl run and a trip to the NFC title game the next season, Kaepernick has struggled. He took 52 sacks and saw his passer rating drop from 91.6 in 2013 to 86.4 the following season as the 49ers missed the playoffs in the final year under coach Jim Harbaugh.

Things only got worse last year under coach Jim Tomsula. Kaepernick completed just 59 percent of his passes with six TDs, five interceptions and a 78.5 rating before losing his job to Blaine Gabbert midway through the season. Now there is some hope a new offensive system under Kelly that values mobile quarterbacks could help revive Kaepernick's career if he stays in San Francisco. First he has to get healthy from medical procedures on his right thumb, his left knee, and on his non-throwing left shoulder to repair a torn labrum. "He says he's doing well," Kelly said. "He said he feels like he's on track, he's getting healthy and he's excited. That's the biggest thing for him, just getting healthy." Despite going 5-11 last season and having plenty of salary cap room available, the 49ers have been relatively quiet this offseason, aside from the speculation about Kaepernick's future. They have signed no prominent free agents, with their biggest move so far being to re-sign kicker Phil Dawson to a one-year deal. But Kelly said that is all part of the plan he and Baalke have. "Some of the money that was thrown around at the beginning, you have to be able to manage that," he said. "If you're going to pay some guy who never has been to a Pro Bowl more than anyone on your roster, that's a little bit difficult. There are a lot of things that get involved in this."

Free agency grades: AFC West By Gregg Rosenthal FoxSports.com March 18, 2016 After more than a week of free-agency action, it's time to take stock of what teams have accomplished thus far. We'll assign highly scientific and inarguable grades for each NFL team's free-agent haul thus far, noting their additions and subtractions. The AFC West is below. Denver Broncos It's been a bad month for John Elway, no matter how you spin it. The Broncos general manager wanted to keep Brock Osweiler and he failed to do so. Forget the "players that want to be here" line. The Broncos were willing to pay Osweiler $16.5 million per season, but they slow-played negotiations and wasted four years of development. Now they are starting over from scratch at the game's most important position with Mark Sanchez and possibly a broken-beyond-repair Colin Kaepernick. That mistake alone is worthy of a poor grade, but it impacted so many other decisions. Would the Broncos have extended more to keep Danny Trevathan (or Malik Jackson) if they knew Osweiler was out the door? Perhaps it was a factor in trying to go cheap with C.J. Anderson's initial restricted free-agent tender. When the Broncos matched Anderson's offer sheet with Miami, Elway essentially was admitting another $3.5 million mistake (he could have kept Anderson for $2.5 million and will instead pay Anderson $6 million in 2016). Denver also saw Von Miller's price tag go up as guys like Olivier Vernon signed monster deals. The Broncos can replace role players like David Bruton and Evan Mathis. And they made a smart deal with Russell Okung on Thursday, which could lead to Ryan Clady getting cut. But the Osweiler decision was botched, no matter how his tenure in Houston goes. Grade: D+ Kansas City Chiefs This was such an Andy Reid/John Dorsey free-agent period. They stayed out of the headlines and were quietly effective, retaining Jaye Howard, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali for reasonable prices (Howard came at an especially surprising price). Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz upgrades a longtime trouble spot. Losing Sean Smith to a division rival stings, but this is the type of no-nonsense free agent periods that good teams enjoy before putting up another 10 wins in the standings. Grade: B+ Oakland Raiders You know the Raiders are on to something when longtime critic Chris Wesseling can't contain his excitement. Sean Smith reminds us of all the classic, physical cornerbacks the Raiders have employed over the years, and his arrival makes a division rival worse. Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn form a terrific left side of the offensive line. This group might be pricey, but it has a chance to be a dominant offensive line. Bruce Irvin adds a versatile element to the team's front seven, even if he's not a true bookend pass rusher with Khalil Mack. Meanwhile, the best Raiders player that left was ... Tony Bergstrom? Grade: A- San Diego Chargers

Cornerback Casey Hayward came at a great price. Is he really that much worse than Janoris Jenkins? Heyward, Brandon Flowers and Jason Verrett form one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL. The Chargers did a nice job retaining tackle Joe Barksdale and tight end Antonio Gates, although it hurts to see Gates' running mate Ladarius Green leave town. Wide receiver Travis Benjamin looks like a perfect receiver for Philip Rivers to target deep up the seams. The Chargers would have an even higher grade, but they deserve to be knocked some for the way they handled the end of safety Eric Weddle's career in San Diego. Grade: B-

Okung’s deal sounds better than it is By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk March 18, 2016 Russell Okung the agent has quickly mastered one key aspect of the business. He already knows how to make a deal look better than it really is. Initial reports pegged the deal at being worth $10.6 million per year. One report from NFL Media put it at being worth “up to” $12 million per year. That’s very impressive. It would be even more impressive if it were, you know, accurate. The truth, as Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports and PFT has confirmed, is that it’s a one-year, $5 million deal with a team option for the final four years and $48 million. The guaranteed money at signing is less than $5 million, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. According to another source, the deal contains up to $3 million in incentives for 2016. After the coming season, it’s a straight, one-year-at-a-time deal. A one-year, $5 million deal would have made more sense for Okung. If Okung had a huge season, he’d hit the open market or be restrained by the franchise tag, which currently sits at $13.706 million. (The transition tag, at $11.9 million in 2016, also would have been an option.) As it stands, the Broncos have squatter’s rights. If he earns another year, he gets another year. If he doesn’t, they’ll cut him or squeeze him to take less. In Okung’s defense, plenty of players who have agents have signed similar deals. Typically, a one-year deal with a team-option on the rest is used when the player is recovering from a major injury. New Jaguars tackle Kelvin Beachum did a deal like that earlier in the week. A decade ago, Saints quarterback Drew Brees signed a similar contract while recovering from major shoulder surgery. Okung also is recovering from shoulder surgery, albeit not major. If he recovers and thrives in Denver, the Broncos will keep him. If he doesn’t, he’ll be back on the market next year. Still, a one-year deal would have positioned him to make a lot more on the back end — especially if he’d finagled a clause preventing the team from tagging him in 2017.

Russell Okung wants to be in Denver for “long haul” By Curtis Crabtree Pro Football Talk March 18, 2016 Russell Okung, the agent, found a new home for Russell Okung, the player, in Denver on Thursday. After taking free agent visits to Pittsburgh, Detroit and the New York Giants, Okung decided that the Broncos provided the best fit and contract for him moving forward. “[The contract] is a bit intricate, but I thought it was the best deal for me moving forward,” Okung said in a conference call with Denver area media on Thursday. “Denver is the place I want to be for the long haul.” Okung representing himself was a fairly unique occurrence. Players don’t typically represent themselves all that often, though it’s far from unprecedented. “I don’t necessarily know if there would be anything different about it,” Okung said of not using an agent. “I think that other guys, it’s for them. In terms of me, it wasn’t for me. I got the deal that I wanted.” In order to remain in Denver for the long haul, Okung will have to prove he can stay healthy and play at a high level once again. Despite being a five-year contract, the deal is a one-year, $5 million deal with a possible $3 million in additional incentives for 2016. The Broncos then have team options on each of the remaining four years and $48 million of the contract. Okung suffered a dislocated shoulder that required surgery in Seattle’s playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers in January. Okung said his shoulder feels “good” and that he expects to be ready in May or June. But Okung has never played in all 16 regular season games in six years with Seattle. He’s missed an average of four games a season due to injury over that span. However, Okung has been more durable than Denver left tackle Ryan Clady over the last three seasons. And with the Broncos and Clady not making any headway on a contract, Okung could be the more dependable option at this point.

Broncos sign free agent OT Russell Okung to five-year contract By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com March 18, 2016 The Broncos have added further to their offensive line by signing offensive tackle Russell Okung, one of the premier offensive-line free agents this offseason, to a five-year contract. In a unique position as his own agent, Okung had offers from multiple teams but selected the defending NFL champions as his new home. That he had many suitors should come as no surprise; Okung has started in all 72 games he's played in over the past six years, and he's allowed an average of just 3.5 sacks per season, according to Pro Football Focus. With his help on the line, the Seahawks had a top-five rushing offense in each of the past four seasons. After injuring his shoulder in Seattle's playoff loss to the Panthers, Okung is expected to recover from offseason surgery by June. Okung's skill set and experience in the Seahawks' own zone-blocking scheme should fit in well with the Broncos' own rushing style, which is predicated on similar philosophies.

Russell Okung confident in seamless fit with Broncos By Ben Swanson DenverBroncos.com March 18, 2016 Offensive tackle Russell Okung has gotten used to playing in Super Bowls, and that's exactly why he signed with the Denver Broncos on Thursday. "I just wanted to love the place I was in and have a good opportunity to win championships going into the future," Okung said. "[That's] something I'm accustomed to and we're ready to do it here." That confidence was bolstered during his discussions with the Broncos as they work toward reaching another Super Bowl. "They told me what I needed to hear. I have confidence to be a part of the team," Okung said. "No cause for pause. They made a good decision in bringing me in. You make decisions like that, you’re headed the right way." By signing Okung and tackle Donald Stephenson, and re-signing RB C.J. Anderson, the Broncos are in good shape to improve upon their rushing attack from its already sturdy stature. A seventh-year veteran drafted by the Seahawks with the sixth overall pick in 2010, Okung a wealth of experience playing the Seahawks' zone-blocking scheme that established Seattle as a top-five rushing team in each of the past four seasons. "I’m very familiar with the scheme that they run," Okung said. "I’ve been running the zone scheme since I’ve been a rookie. I understand all the concepts and just everything that they have here. I hope I have something great to offer the team — just in my understanding of the scheme and my level of play as well, too. I know these guys are a championship-caliber team and I’m glad I could be a part of it." In addition to the competition level, what drew Okung to the Broncos boiled down to the quality of the organization, he said. "It's a great organization and I think there are only a few top organizations in the NFL. Denver is obviously one those," Okung said. "The class and integrity, it goes with the organization and speaks volumes. I wanted to be a part of a place that did that. […] Denver is the place I want to be for the long haul." The process that led Okung to Denver is a unique one because he acted as his own agent this offseason. In January, he emailed NFL teams to notify them that he was getting surgery on his shoulder, but that he would recover by June. That timeline is still the plan, he said Thursday. "Whatever they ask me to do, I’ll be ready to do it full speed," he said.

Analysis: Russell Okung completes Broncos' O-line makeover By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com March 18, 2016 None of what has happened on the offensive line so far in the new league year should come as a surprise. It shouldn't, because Head Coach Gary Kubiak and Executive Vice President/General Manager John Elway made it abundantly clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that the line was the area most in need of improvement after an injury-riddled, inconsistent performance in 2015. "Obviously it's a position that we feel like we need to improve upon offensively," Kubiak said Feb. 24. "Obviously that’s an area where we need to get better," Elway added one day later. "That's going to be a focal point for us this year as we go into free agency as well as the draft." The Broncos now hope that different = better. With the release of Louis Vasquez, the free-agent departure of Evan Mathis and the additions of Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson in the last eight days, the Broncos' line is guaranteed to have a dramatically different look than it did in Super Bowl 50 -- or at any point before. Only Matt Paradis is projected to be back at the position he started on Feb. 7. Okung is immediately penciled in as the starter at left tackle, having handled that role for the last six seasons in Seattle, one of which saw him in the Pro Bowl. Although he has dealt with injuries in his career and has not played 16 games in a season, he has missed just five games in the last two and a half seasons since returning from injured reserve midway through the Seahawks' 2013 world-championship season. Most importantly, his health is on the upswing. The shoulder injury he suffered in the Seahawks' divisional-round loss at Carolina in January will be fully healed well in time for training camp. That contrasts with Ryan Clady, with whom Elway was talking about a restructured contract. While Okung's durability has improved the last three years, Clady has played in just 19 of a possible 55 games (including postseason) since signing a contract after the Broncos gave him the franchise tag in 2013. With Okung on the left side and Stephenson likely to start on the right side, Ty Sambrailo's immediate future appears to be at one of the guard spots, with fellow 2015 draftee Max Garcia handling the other position. Sambrailo is expected to be back to full strength later this spring after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered in Week 3 of last year.

Michael Schofield, who started 16 games from Week 4 through the Super Bowl at right tackle, can be a swing tackle, but has some position flexibility to work at left guard, where he saw some work at Michigan. But with Okung and Stephenson, the Broncos have two tackles that they feel fit their zone-blocking scheme perfectly; they are long, athletic, intelligent players with quick feet. Okung's experience in zone-blocking dates back to his rookie season. The Seahawks' offensive-line coach when he was drafted was Alex Gibbs, a long-time Broncos assistant who implemented this scheme. Gibbs retired before that season, but the Seahawks used zone principles throughout the last six seasons. @MaseDenver Okung says he understands "all the concepts" of zone-blocking scheme ... "I hope I have something great to offer." With their experience on the outside and three players who just completed their first active regular seasons on the inside, the Broncos now have a combination they feel can be a long-term answer, while providing the improvement Elway and Kubiak wanted — and the consistency that last year's line lacked.