George Paton, GM, Denver Broncos, made the first few moves of his tenure. After clearing nearly $ 25 million in headroom by releasing cornerback AJ Bouye and defender Jurrell Casey, the Broncos now have about $ 48.4m worth of headroom approaching the free agency period.
The created cap space puts the Broncos in the top-5 in available cap space in the league, but the space can quickly disappear as options, tenders and the franchise label (possibly) are placed on different players.
One of the biggest questions Paton faces in 2021 is what to do with star-studded rusher Von Miller. In the wake of the miss of the 2020 season after having a disrupted peroneal tendon in an ankle that needed surgery, the future 32-year-old’s future in Denver was clouded.
The reason for Miller’s uncertain future in Denver is not due to his level of play, as he is still considered one of the leading pass-rushers in the entire NFL, even though he is over the 30-year-old hill. It’s its inflated hood from 2021 that is muddying the water.
The Broncos, who are currently planning $ 22,225 million against the hood, could save $ 18 million with just $ 4.225 million in dead money by not exercising Miller’s option for this season. As Denver has to make a decision on the future of free agent Justin Simmons, defensive line Shelby Harris will fetch the open market, and the obvious holes in the corner are expected to give the Broncos a decent share of their available cap on ‘ a veteran rugby quarter. Every dollar counts.
The loss of Miller would hurt, but that’s perhaps the easiest way for Paton to create a hood space now that Bouye and Casey have been released. Will the Broncos make that difficult decision?
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Ian Rapoport shed light on Miller’s future prospects in Denver.
“If he’s free, he’s going to have a very good market,” Rapoport told host Pat McAfee. “I don’t think they’re going to choose that option because I think there’s a good chance – real chance that the two parties get together and it makes sense. He wants to finish his career in Denver. He’s great. Last year missed with an injury. They have a hood. It’s hard to beat one of your best players. to run, so I would think that there is some compromise to smooth his coat line and make it meaningful.
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After how Miller reacted to even the idea of a contractual restructuring on 104.3s The FANs Stokely and Zach shown earlier this season, many of Broncos Country were rightly concerned about Miller’s future. It would be hard to release Miller for free, only to see him run for a championship and play at an elite level for another team, but sometimes that’s the reality of the NFL.
Just like when DeMarcus Ware left Dallas for the Broncos, not all legends play their entire careers for the team they drafted in today’s NFL. The Broncos may have the chance to exercise and survive Miller’s option this year, but as Rapoport said, it’s likely Paton will work out an extension with Miller’s camp that adds years to his deal, the guaranteed money at a later date. years increase and decrease a part of Von’s 2021 cap hit the future years, where the cap would have to increase again.
Expanding the still incredibly valuable Miller for future years, while increasing spending on flexibility by lowering the 2021 Von cap, is smart accounting and smart business. Of course, there is always some concern about extending an obsolete passport due to a serious injury.
The Broncos, as McAfee would explain later in the interview, could certainly use the capital savings to move away from Miller to be more aggressive in the quarterback market this year. Aside from the fact that Dak Prescott may possibly be available, there really isn’t a quarter worth considering breaking the bank on the open market.
If the Broncos can work out an expansion and restructuring for Miller, Denver will add financial flexibility in an off-season in which not many teams can be spent. This advantage could give Denver the chance to make money on short-term bargains, and if not, Paton can only use the capital savings carried over by a restructuring until 2022.
To eliminate the release of Bouye and Casey, the decisions are now becoming much more difficult for Paton. Can the Broncos reach a long-term deal with Simmons before using the franchise label?
Will Denver exercise Miller’s 2021 contract option, or can the two parties agree to expand Von and make his salary more team – friendly during a limited season? Those hoping Miller will become one of the rare elite players to play his entire career with one team set Rapoport’s latest information on fire with new optimism, despite Von’s ongoing legal question marks.
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