The Broncos began working on their in-house restricted free agents Sunday, signing offensive tackle Calvin Anderson and agreeing to terms with fullback/tight end Andrew Beck on one-year contracts.
Anderson and Beck are two of the team’s seven restricted free agents. A source confirmed that reserve guard/center Austin Schlottmann and returner Diontae Spencer were not tendered, making them unrestricted free agents.
The Broncos also tendered three exclusive rights free agents: Quarterback Brett Rypien, inside linebacker Jonas Griffith and safety P.J. Locke. An ERFA is a player with fewer than three accrued seasons and those players are now prohibited from negotiating with another team.
Beginning Monday at 10 a.m., NFL teams can begin communicating with the representatives of other teams’ free agents. The signing/trade period begins Wednesday at 2 p.m., at which point the Broncos’ acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson will be official.
Anderson and Beck, who will turn 26 this offseason, both joined the Broncos in 2019 — Anderson off the New York Jets’ practice squad and Beck via waivers from New England.
Anderson has played 304 offensive snaps in the last two years and started five games. He started one game apiece at right and left tackle in 2020 and three games at left tackle in ’21. While filling in for Garett Bolles last year, he was booked for 5 1/2 pass protection disruptions. Anderson could be viewed as competition to start at right tackle or as a valuable player who can back up at both tackle spots.
Beck played 230 offensive snaps in 2019 when then-coordinator Rich Scangarello used a fullback more often than Pat Shurmur in 2020-21 (121 combined snaps for Beck). New coach Nathaniel Hackett clearly sees a use for a fullback in his new system.
Beck will also be a core special teams player; he has played 560 special teams snaps in three years.
Rypien joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019 (one start, 295 passing yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions).
Griffith was acquired in a post-training camp trade from San Francisco last year and played 255 defensive snaps and 148 special teams snaps in 13 games for the Broncos. He had 46 tackles on defense.
Locke has appeared in 31 games for the Broncos over the last two years, playing 690 special teams snaps.
