George Paton, the GM of Denver Broncos, has made the first moves of his tenure. After clearing nearly $ 25 million at the limit by releasing cornerback AJ Bouye and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, the Broncos now have about $ 48.4 million at the limit approaching the free agency period.
The cover space created places the Broncos in the top-5 of the cover space available throughout the league, but that space can dissipate quickly as options, bids, and the franchise label (potentially) are they place in different players.
One of the biggest questions Paton will face in 2021 is what to do with star runner Von Miller. After missing the 2020 season after suffering a dislocated peroneal tendon in an ankle that needed surgery, the future of the 32-year-old in Denver has been clouded.
The reason for Miller’s uncertain future in Denver is not due to his level of play, as he is still seen as one of the most important running backs in the entire NFL despite being on top of the hill for 30 years. It’s his swollen 2021 hat trick that muddies the water.
Currently projected to cost $ 22.225 billion against the limit, the Broncos could save $ 18 million with only $ 4.225 million dead by not exercising Miller’s option for this season. With Denver’s need to make a decision on free agent safety, future Justin Simmons defender Shelby Harris, who would hit the open market and the obvious holes in the corner, the Broncos are expected to spend a good chunk of his limit available in a veteran safety quarterback. Every dollar counts.
Miller’s loss would hurt, but it could be the easiest way for Paton to create tapas space now that Bouye and Casey have been released. Will the Broncos make that tough decision?
In an appearance a The Pat McAfee Show, NFL member Ian Rapoport shed light on Miller’s future prospects in Denver.
If it’s free, it will have a very good market, “Rapoport told host Pat McAfee.” At this point I will say I doubt he will be free because they have the option of coming team. I don’t think they take the option because I think there are a lot of possibilities; i think there is a real possibility that the two sides will come together and make sense. He wants to finish his career in Denver. It’s incredible. Disappeared last year with an injury. They have cap space. It’s hard to improve by letting go of one of your best players, so I would imagine there is some kind of commitment to soften the goal and make sense of it.
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After how Miller reacted even to the notion of a contractual restructuring at 104.3 The FAN Stokely and Zach shown earlier this past season, much of the Broncos Country was justly worried about Miller’s future. It would be hard to release Miller for nothing just to see him join a championship contender and play at an elite level for another team, but sometimes that’s the reality of the NFL.
Similar to when DeMarcus Ware left Dallas for the Broncos, not all legends play their entire career for the team that drafted them in today’s NFL. The Broncos have limited space to exercise Miller’s option this year and survive, but, as Rapoport said, Paton is more likely to make an extension with Miller’s field that adds years to his deal, increases the money guaranteed in later years and reduces some of Von’s 2021 limit reached in future years, where the limit should increase again.
Expanding the still incredibly valuable Miller for years to come and increasing spending flexibility by lowering the Von 2021 cap is smart and accounting business. Of course, there is always some degree of concern spreading an aging runner coming out of a serious injury.
The Broncos, as McAfee would later state in the interview, could certainly use the limit savings when moving on from Miller to be more aggressive in the quarterbacks market this year. However, outside of Dak Prescott being available, there really isn’t a quarterback worth even considering the bank break in the free market.
If the Broncos are able to work out an extension and a restructuring for Miller, Denver adds financial flexibility in a low season in which there won’t be many teams as investors. This advantage could give Denver a chance to get some bargains in the short term, and if not, Paton can only use the limit savings created by a restructuring to move to 2022.
Eliminating the release of Bouye and Casey, decisions are now much more difficult for Paton. Can the Broncos reach a long-term deal with Simmons before they have to use the franchise label?
Will Denver exercise Miller’s contract option for 2021 or can the two parties reach an agreement to expand Von and make his salary more team-friendly for a limited season? For those who expect Miller to become one of the few elite players to play his entire career with a team, Rapoport’s latest information inspires new optimism, despite Von’s ongoing legal questions.
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