There are four Denver Broncos players that the team is focused on re-signing during the NFL Combine. Offense captain Peyton Manning and defense captain DeMarcus Ware are not among them.
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18), defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97), linebacker Von Miller (58) and defensive end DeMarcus Ware (94) at media event during Super Bowl 50 week in Santa Clara, CA. February 01, 2016 (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Rather efforts are underway now to retain outside linebacker Von Miller, quarterback Brock Osweiler, defensive end Malik Jackson, and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan.
Mike Klis of Denver NBC 9News writes that Broncos executives will meet with players’ agents Joby Branion, Jimmy Sexton, and Jack Scharf at the Combine in Indianapolis. The event commences Wednesday morning.
Branion represents Miller, Sexton deals for Osweiler, and Scharf negotiates for Jackson.
Negotiations with Sexton about Osweiler have been held off to give Manning time to decide on his future. He is scheduled to receive $19 million for the final year of his five-year contract. That amount is guaranteed on March 9. There is no feasible scenario for the Broncos to pay Manning the total amount.
Super Bowl 50 MVP Miller is expected to receive in excess of $100 million for a six-year contract. Appropriate benchmarks are Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s $114.4 million six-year deal with $60 million guaranteed money and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt’s $100 million six-year agreement with $20.9 million guaranteed.
If John Elway, Executive Vice President for Football Operations, follows past practices he will designate Miller with a franchise tag for over $14 million in 2016 while negotiates continue for the long-term deal. This process was used in re-signing left tackle Ryan Clady and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
Predicting Osweiler’s agreement is somewhat ambiguous with his small history of starting. In 2015 he went for 5-2. A best guess is that he will receive about $12 million per year for a four-year contract from the Broncos or another team.
Given the elite quality of Jackson’s play during the 2015 season he should expect a big payday. Jackson won’t command the contract of three-time NFL defensive player of the year Watt. But he will most likely receive comparable pay at the next tier of 3-4 defensive ends.
The benchmark for negotiations are the 2015 contracts of three defensive ends: Cameron Jordan of the New Orlean Saints, Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Corey Liuget of the San Diego Chargers.
Therefore Jackson’s average annual compensation should lie between $12 and $13 million. At present there is a substantial gap bridge says Eric Goodman of Denver Mile High Sports Radio, AM 1340:
The big uncertainty is the guaranteed money. It could range between $12.5 and $22.5 million.
Ware shortly turns 34 years old. He missed five games in the 2015 campaign with chronic back problems. He is not expected to return to the Broncos roster unless he takes a substantial pay cut of his scheduled pay of nearly $12 million.
Some help with the re-signings comes from the NFL Players’ Association arbitration win, on February 23, gaining an a $50 million salary cap increase. For the Broncos that is a $1,562,500 increase.
