NFL Notes: Broncos, Jets, Vikings

Broncos

New Broncos HC Vance Joseph reiterated that he doesn’t think the team is broken and understands the expectations that come with this job.

“I’ve said, coming in, really looking at this team, looking at every game — which I did several times — it isn’t broken,” Joseph said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN. “Yes, there are things we could, and must, do better, places where we need to improve. But this team won nine games last season. But I also understand the expectations here. It’s why it’s a great job; it’s why I can’t wait.”

Broncos executive John Elway explained that their roster was deep enough that they felt it was better to use some of their draft picks to move up this year, given that it was unlikely that 10 draft picks would make their 53-man roster.

“We had the meeting before the draft started … and we started counting numbers,” Elway said. “It’s going to be hard to make our football team. We’ve got a lot of good football players, so that’s why we have to be that good in the draft because we’ve got to find guys that can come in and compete and have a chance to make our football team. There is not a whole lot of slots because we do have a pretty good football team.”

Jets

• Darryl Slater of NJ.com writes that the next potential time for the Jets to trade DL Sheldon Richardson is at this year’s trade deadline.
• Slater adds that keeping Richardson to open the year would at least give him the time boost his trade value.
• With this in mind, Slater mentions that this could be why the Jets don’t appear to be willing to settle for a mid-round pick in return for Richardson.
• Of course, New York could hold on to him and collect a compensatory pick for him in 2019.
• In regards to the Jets’ 2017 draft class, Slater wouldn’t be surprised if all nine draft picks made the 53-man roster or at least end up being signed to their practice squad at the start of the season.
• Slater considers sixth-round CBs Jeremy Clark and Derrick Jones to be potential practice squad options.

Vikings

• Vikings HC Mike Zimmer mentioned Saturday at a youth football camp that he recently had an eighth eye surgery since he suffered a detached retina last year, via Ben Goessling.
• Zimmer is hopeful that this procedure will be his last but admits: “I’ve thought that before.”
• According to Zimmer, his eye is “healing” and hasn’t prevented from participating in things such as his charitable football camp.