Training camp for the Denver Broncos is now underway, so let's look at some former Broncos who remain unsigned as camps across the league begin. The Broncos did undergo a good bit of roster change this offseason, and some of their former players are still on the market. Some are surprisingly still available, but others not so much.
On paper, the Denver Broncos roster is quite obviously better this year than it was at any point last year. As training camps begin across the NFL, let's highlight former Denver Broncos still on the free agent market.
Perhaps the most surprising free agent of any team left on the market, Justin Simmons is still searching for a home in the 2024 NFL Season, as there have been a plethora of inferior safeties who have gotten signed since he was cut by the Denver Broncos following the 2023 NFL Season.
The outright release was a shock, and it's even more of a shock that Simmons is still out there. You have to figure that Simmons is wanting to play for certain teams and is also wanting a certain salary as well, so that could be why he is not signed heading into training camp. At this point, Justin Simmons' best chance at being signed is if a team suffers an injury to a notable safety.
This could give the former Broncos stud an "in" to a starting job for the 2024 NFL Season. However, I truly believe Simmons will want to sign with a competitive, playoff-caliber team, so that criteria could keep him out of a jersey for some time.
A high-end backup tackle, Cameron Fleming was very useful to the Denver Broncos, playing in 26 total games for the team across the 2021-2023 seasons. He's got experience at both tackle spots and is still only 31 years old. Fleming would be a savvy addition for any team still looking for tackle help and has started 62 of his 117 career regular season games.
Fleming is one of many quality players still left on the market who will surely find a home for 2024, but may not until an injury is suffered by another team. The Broncos made a slew of moves along their offensive line this offseason, so it's not likely that Fleming is brought back.
Another quality veteran, Fabian Moreau was able to come in and perform well in a pinch for the Denver Broncos in the 2023 NFL Season. Then second-year CB Damarri Mathis got benched, and Moreau held his own for a while as the team's primary CB2. His play tapered off near the end of the season, but Moreau still tallied an interception, seven passes defended, and 46 total tackles.
The Denver Broncos signed veteran CB Levi Wallace in free agency this offseason and also took Kris Abrams-Draine in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so there likely is not a chance that the Broncos bring back Moreau. Fabian Moreau has played in 106 career games in the regular season, starting 56 across seven seasons.
A fan favorite for some reason, former Denver Broncos defensive tackle Mike Purcell is still on the market, and his days in the NFL seem to be nearing their end. Purcell played in 16 games for the Broncos in the 2023 NFL Season, racking up just 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, and five QB hits.
He's played in 65 total games for Denver in the 2019-2023 seasons, starting 37 of them. Mike Purcell is 33 years old, so his age could be a concern for some teams wanting a boost along the defensive line. There is virtually no advantage to signing someone like Purcell over a younger defensive linemen.
The Denver Broncos probably should have moved on from Mike Purcell sooner than they did, but they did reinforce the DL this offseason by signing Malcolm Roach, Angelo Blackson, and trading for John Franklin-Myers. Purcell began his career in 2014 for the San Francisco 49ers.
