ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Despite fans' thoughts to the contrary, the Denver Broncos got almost exactly what they expected in the opening frenzy of free agency.

They expected defensive end Malik Jackson to get the kind of offer they wouldn't match. He did, six years, $85.5 million worth from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Broncos were not willing to offer Brock Osweiler the type of money the Texans guaranteed. Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

They expected linebacker Danny Trevathan to venture into the open market -- general manager John Elway said at the scouting combine Trevathan would be headed elsewhere. He signed a four-year deal with Chicago.

The Broncos even expected, if it came down to money, including guaranteed money, quarterback Brock Osweiler would be behind center in somebody else's offense. And he got $7 million more in guaranteed money from the Houston Texans than the Broncos were offering. Both sides, unintentional or not, then said a stony-faced goodbye as they parted ways.

Osweiler -- having just spent four years on a team that won four division titles, made two Super Bowl trips and just won Super Bowl 50 -- said the Texans gave him the “best opportunity to be successful." Elway said the Broncos wanted “players who want to be Denver Broncos and want to be here."

The Broncos added an offensive lineman in Donald Stephenson and shortly after Osweiler's exit, they traded a seventh-round conditional pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Oh, and Peyton Manning retired.

It was an emotional roller-coaster, Rome-is-burning type of week for some of the team's faithful because of the departures in free agency. But inside the team's suburban Denver complex -- once Manning's retirement was official -- things have gone about how the team's decision-makers believed they would.

The Broncos did think they had what Elway termed “a competitive offer" on the table for Osweiler. But the Broncos did not have as much overall, per year or guaranteed money, as the Texans. And the lure of returning to the Super Bowl winner with nine defensive starters back from the league's No. 1 defense wasn't enough to make up the difference.

The Broncos did carve out just over $3 million worth of additional salary-cap room by restructuring DeMarcus Ware's contract. Ware had been scheduled to count $11.67 million against the cap with a roster bonus that was going to be guaranteed this past weekend as well as $3.5 million of his original $7 million base salary. Both sides knew there was a chance Ware would be more of a third-down player in the coming season, as he will turn 34 on July 31. He also missed five games last season with a back injury.

Ware trimmed his base salary and took a $2 million signing/renegotiation bonus instead of the $3 million roster bonus. He has incentives in place to recover the money he surrendered if he has eight sacks ($1.25 million bonus), nine sacks ($2.5 million), 11 sacks ($3 million) or 13 sacks ($3.5 million).

It also means he can continue to be one of the team's most important figures in the locker room, especially given that Ware's locker is roughly five feet from Von Miller's. Miller has made no secret that a big part of the personal and professional growth he had from suspended player to Super Bowl MVP in the span of three seasons coincided with Ware's arrival.

But with the opening flurry of free agency having now passed, it means the Broncos will continue to look around in the second wave in the days and weeks to come, including the potential addition of another veteran quarterback. The Broncos have had talks about a potential trade for Colin Kaepernick and have taken a look at free agent Robert Griffin III.

They also face a decision about running back C.J. Anderson in the coming week. Anderson, who led the team's backs this past season at 4.7 yards per carry, has signed a four-year, $18 million offer sheet from the Miami Dolphins.

The Broncos have until Tuesday to match the offer or let Anderson go to the Dolphins with no compensation in return.

The Broncos are looking to manufacture additional cap space and have talked to representatives of tackle Ryan Clady, whose current contract counts $10.1 million against the cap this coming season. Clady has said he would renegotiate the deal, but to this point they haven't made an agreement.

The Broncos also will look at running backs in the next wave of free agency, especially given that the Broncos essentially told their leading rusher from this past season, Ronnie Hillman (863 yards and seven touchdowns), to go see how much interest there was for him around the league.

Elway has said in the past that “everybody thinks free agency goes just those first two or three days, but it goes all the way until camp and we can find impact players later in free agency, just like you find guys down the board in the draft."