With Eric Decker possibly hitting free agency in the near future, is there a possibility that the could sign with the Denver Broncos?
Adam Schefter, NFL Insider for ESPN, reported in a Tweet that the New York Jets are going to part ways with Eric Decker. The team is currently shopping him for a trade, but will release him if a trade can not be facilitated.
Decker played three seasons with the Jets, catching 163 receptions for 2,183 yards and 19 touchdowns during his tenure with the team. Shoulder and hip injuries caused him to play in just three games last season. Even with the recent injury history, Decker was still practicing with the team this offseason. According to Spotrac, Decker was set to make $8.7 million this season after signing bonuses and base salary.
If for some reason you don't remember, Decker played four seasons with the Denver Broncos from 2010 to 2013. The team drafted him in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft and during his tenure with the team, he managed to catch 222 receptions for 3,070 yards and 33 touchdowns. Decker had two 1,000-yard seasons while being paired with legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.
The odds are highly likely that Decker will be released from the New York Jets and will be able to test the waters of free agency, which means the Broncos will get a crack at signing Decker if they want to take a chance on him.
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Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Eric Decker would be a tremendous trio in the passing game. Thomas and Decker have a lot of experience working with each other and the two wide receivers should click and return to old form right off the back. Decker is a pro's pro and his efficiency while running routes would help the young quarterbacks convert passes. The Broncos need to acquire as much talent on the offensive side of the ball as possible since they are lacking experience at quarterback, and the more talent they have the easier transition the young quarterbacks will have with their development.
The offense is lacking talent for the third wide receiver spot on the roster and Decker could easily step in and fill that role. Even with the team drafting Carlos Henderson in the third round in this year's draft to eventually fill the void, Decker could still be a viable option.
There are a lot of teams in the league that are hurting worse at wide receiver than the Broncos. The Baltimore Ravens currently have the worst depth chart in the league for the wide receiver position and there's a good chance that they take a long hard look at Decker. The Buffalo Bills is another possible suitor as they are also in need for an experienced wide receiver.
Although the acquisition of Decker would certainly help the team, the odds of him and the Broncos coming to together to make a deal are very slim. The team is already heavily invested in two receivers and adding a third receiver on the payroll could be a bit excessive for the team. Even though Decker is coming back from an injury plagued season, he should command a fair bit of money as a free agent, because he is one of the most talented wide receiver prospects on the market.
Adding Decker to the team would be an amazing addition, especially since he was a prominent figure for the team a few years ago. He's a very talent player who could provide a boost for the offense. But, other teams could get in the Denver Broncos' way in free agency, potentially blocking them from acquiring his services.
There are a lot of variables that could get in the way of getting this theoretical deal done, so the odds of him signing with the Broncos are very low. Decker was an amazing asset to the team a few years ago and it's fun to speculate the possibilities of him signing with the team.
