Connecting NFL Free Agency Dots: FB Lawrence Vickers and the Denver Broncos

The fullback position is one of the most under-appreciated in the NFL, and thus it has become something of a lost art. One player who still hones that craft pretty well is Cleveland’s Lawrence Vickers, who has never put up eye-opening statistics, but has certainly helped pave the way for some of the runners in Cleveland.

With the Denver Broncos moving back to a traditional running style, it makes sense that they would give Vickers a look in free agency. Vickers attended Colorado in Boulder where he played well enough to warrant a sixth round selection by the Browns in 2006. He has proven since that time that he can be a competent receiver out of the backfield when asked, but his real impact is going to come in the blocking game, which the Broncos desperately need in some way, shape, or form.

Current fullback Spencer Larsen is one of the Broncos’ best special teams players, so he will likely be given a role in some regard with the team, whether it’s strictly on special teams, at fullback, or as a linebacker (his college position). Larsen is the type of high-character player you need to have on your team not just because he’s a good guy, but because he can play on four downs for you on both sides of the ball, and then bust his butt on kick coverage. We saw him do that against Atlanta as a rookie in 2008.

Still, the Broncos are likely to be in the market for a traditional fullback this offseason, and a guy like Vickers who played his college ball near the Mile High City makes a lot of sense.