The Denver Broncos bolstered their offensive line during the latter part of free agency by signing center Sam Mustipher to a one-year deal. This move was highlighted by Aric DiLalla of DenverBroncos.com on April 4th.
Adding Mustipher adds depth to Denver’s center position, where he joins Alex Forsyth and Luke Wattenberg as potential options. Despite being just shy of 28 years old, Mustipher brings considerable experience compared to his counterparts, having started 40 out of 43 games during his tenure with the Chicago Bears from 2020 to 2022. Notably, he started 33 out of 34 possible games in his last two seasons with the Bears.
Following his departure from the Bears, Mustipher spent the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year, $1 million contract, starting in two out of the nine games he played. Despite limited playing time, he garnered his highest career grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023. Mustipher has accumulated $3.6 million in career earnings, making him a valuable addition to the Broncos despite his modest contract.
Broncos Inexperience at Center Could Be Reason for Free Agency Addition
George Paton, the General Manager, has publicly supported Alex Forsyth, despite his college career being limited to just one year as a starter and being perceived as lacking in strength. Forsyth was drafted by the Broncos in the seventh round (No. 257 overall) from Oregon in the previous year’s draft.
Forsyth didn’t play a single snap in the past season but did receive over 100 snaps during the preseason according to Pro Football Focus.
Luke Wattenberg, on the other hand, was drafted by the Broncos in the fifth round from Washington in the 2022 draft. He boasts more NFL experience compared to Forsyth, having participated in 23 games and taken 128 offensive snaps, as per Pro Football Reference. However, Wattenberg has only started one game across two seasons, leaving his potential as uncertain as Forsyth’s for a full-time role.
Both Forsyth and Wattenberg are more familiar with the Broncos’ offensive system compared to Mustipher, suggesting they might have an edge in the training camp competition. However, given the Broncos’ uncertain situation at quarterback with Jarrett Stidham expected to start next season, it’s reasonable to give the veteran, Mustipher, a fair opportunity to compete.
Broncos QB Situation Among Most Dire
In a survey conducted by NFL.com analysts regarding which team should trade up the most, four out of six panelists identified the Broncos as needing to make moves.
Currently, the Broncos are projected to possess the third-most expensive quarterback room in the NFL, totaling $61 million according to Spotrac. However, a significant portion of this sum, $53 million, is attributed to Russell Wilson, who was slated to commence a five-year, $242.6 million contract this season before his release. Without Wilson’s contract, the Broncos would have the sixth-cheapest quarterback room in the NFL.
The experience levels of their quarterbacks reflect this financial reality, potentially presenting an opportunity for Mustipher to seize upon as a stabilizing force.
As the 2024 draft approaches in three weeks, the Broncos are still weighing their options. Mustipher stands as a reliable fallback plan if they opt to give Forsyth—or Wattenberg—the initial opportunity to compete for the starting position.
