Broncos, Lions Discussed Chris Harris Jr., Darius Slay Swap
The Broncos and Lions are playing Sunday afternoon, and they apparently discussed a potential blockbuster trade a couple of months back. The teams discussed a swap of cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Darius Slay, sources told Mike Klis of Denver 9 News (Twitter link).
We had heard that the Lions were the only team to make a formal offer for Harris, but this is the first we’ve heard of Slay being included in those discussions. Klis adds that Detroit was asking for more in addition to Harris, which killed the talks. When big name players get traded in the NFL it’s usually for draft picks, so a deal centered around two star players of the same position would’ve certainly been unusual. Harris originally demanded a trade or extension back around the draft, which resulted in a weeks-long standoff between the two sides.
There were murmurs of a potential deal during draft weekend, but eventually Denver agreed to give him a raise on his 2019 salary while not adding on any additional years. As the Broncos once again got off to a losing start, his name came up in trade talks at the deadline.
The Eagles pursued Slay heavily at the deadline, but a deal couldn’t get done. We didn’t hear anything about him heading to the Broncos, although reports at the time indicated the Lions’ asking price was sky-high. Both corners are having down years, and while Harris is going to enter unrestricted free agency, Slay still has one more year on his deal.
Adam Gotsis Undergoes Knee Surgery
Broncos defensive lineman Adam Gotsis underwent knee surgery yesterday, per Mike Klis of 9News.com (Twitter link). Gotsis will obviously miss Denver’s final two games of the season. The Broncos placed Gotsis on IR.
2019 did not go as planned for Gotsis, a 2016 second-round pick. This time last year, Gotsis was playing the best football of his career, and it seemed as though he was setting himself up for a lucrative extension. Gotsis said, “[i]t’s exciting knowing that [an extension could] come in the future. I feel like if I take care of what I have to on the field, the extension is going to be there when the time comes. Saying this or saying that won’t get it done for me. It’s just going out there and making plays.”
After compiling three sacks and 38 total tackles in 16 games (12 starts) in 2018, Gotsis didn’t register a single sack in nine games (three starts) this year, and he recorded just 16 total tackles. As Klis observes in a separate tweet, Gotsis appeared to struggle grasping new head coach Vic Fangio‘s defense, and he was never able to build much momentum in 2019.
Troy Renck of Denver 7 says the surgery was to repair Gotsis’ ACL and meniscus in his left knee, and it sounds as if Gotsis has been dealing with that injury for some time (Twitter link). “It sucks but I feel good,” Gotsis said. “I feel like I will be healthy finally.”
Klis suggests that Gotsis may be suiting up elsewhere in 2019. Regardless of where he signs, though, he may have to accept a one-term pact and try to rebuild his value in 2020. The Broncos promoted tackle Quinn Bailey from their practice squad to take Gotsis’ roster spot for Week 17.
Broncos Rumors: Miller, Wolfe, Harris
Set for their third straight losing season for the first time since 1970-72, the Broncos did see their best player make the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. But Von Miller‘s postgame comments Sunday left some uncertainty about his future in Denver.
“I don’t really even know what to say. I don’t know how we got to this point. I don’t know why we [are losing] like this. It’s tough,” Miller said, via USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes. “I’m 30 years old and going out there with whatever issues I’m dealing with and still coming up so short. It’s tough playing nine years with Chris Harris and dealing with these last couple of ones, especially with the type of standard that we had when I came into the league. We went to the playoffs five years straight.
“I know I’m getting ahead of myself, and I’m talking about more than just a game, but this is tough. I’m really lost for words.”
Miller said Tuesday he does not want to leave the Broncos “at all” but was expressing frustration about the situation the team resides, per Troy Renck of Denver7. The Broncos won at least 12 games in each of Peyton Manning‘s four seasons but have failed to win 10 in a season since. Miller has two seasons remaining on his six-year, $114.5MM contract; they are option years at $17.5MM apiece. The Broncos have until the final day of the 2019 and ’20 league years to pick up those respective options.
Here is the latest out of Denver:
- Derek Wolfe has made progress since an elbow dislocation ended his season. The eighth-year defensive end did not require surgery, via Renck. While John Elway said he plans to keep Simmons in Denver, Wolfe told Renck no contract discussions have occurred between his camp and the Broncos. One of four Super Bowl 50 starters left with the Broncos, Wolfe would like to stay in Denver on a third contract. The Broncos have Wolfe, Chris Harris, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris as free agents-to-be.
- Chris Harris has said he plans to test the market, which he did not do on what would have been his first free agency go-round four years ago, but would like to stay with the Broncos. There’s a “very good chance” Harris and the Broncos work something out to keep him in Denver, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post writes. Though the 30-year-old defender has endured an up-and-down season, in being the rare cornerback to travel with No. 1 wideouts, the four-time Pro Bowler remains Denver’s top corner. No known discussions have occurred between Harris and the Broncos since his summer pay raise, but some support exists in the building to extend the ninth-year player.
- Kareem Jackson will not return for the Broncos until 2020. The best of the team’s high-priced free agent haul received a two-game suspension Tuesday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/17/19
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S P.J. Locke, DL Jay-Tee Tiuli
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Christian Sam, DT Olive Sagapolu
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Dewayne Hendrix, RB Jeremy McNichols
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Nate Wozniak
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Keon Hatcher
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kareem Orr
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Austin Larkin
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brady Sheldon
- Waived: DE Anthony Zettel
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DB Aljiah Holder
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Calvin Munson
- Placed on IR: LB Raekwon McMillan
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: OL Chuma Edoga, WR Jeff Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: WR Scott Miller
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: K Ryan Santoso
Mutual Interest Between Broncos, Simmons
Justin Simmons has delivered a strong contract year for the Broncos and is set to be one of the 2020 free agent market’s top safeties. But both sides would prefer the fourth-year defender does not reach the market.
John Elway said Tuesday during a radio interview with KOA Radio the team plans to retain Simmons, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (on Twitter). Whether that means via franchise tag or long-term commitment, the Broncos do not want to lose one of their best draft investments since the Super Bowl years.
Simmons and the Broncos engaged in extension talks before the season started, but the former third-round pick bet on himself this season. That’s worked out, with Simmons notching a career-high four interceptions and 14 passes defensed (tops among safeties this season). The Boston College product made it clear he would like to stay in Denver.
“I’d love to be here; this is home,” Simmons said, via Jhabvala (Twitter link). “… Being able to come in and earn the starting spot and kind of solidify that, it’s just been great. I just hope, with that being said, it works out on both ends. Because obviously I’d love to stay, and I’ve built so many great relationships.”
To keep Simmons off the market, it will probably take an eight-figure-per-year offer. The Broncos already have a top-market safety contract on their books in the $11MM-AAV deal they gave to Kareem Jackson this year. Jackson’s deal was initially categorized as a mid-level cornerback pact, but the team moved him to safety. Jackson’s contract is only guaranteed through 2020.
The Broncos also have their franchise tag as an option; a safety tag is projected to cost approximately $11.5MM. Re-upping Simmons in advance of his age-27 season would help matters for a defense that has several key contributors as free agents-to-be. Standout cornerback Chris Harris joins defensive end starters Derek Wolfe and Shelby Harris as players set to hit the market.
NFL Suspends Broncos CB Kareem Jackson
On the heels of the Broncos’ blowout loss to the Chiefs, they got some more tough news. Starting cornerback Kareem Jackson has been suspended for the final two games of the season, according to Mike Klis of Denver 9 News (Twitter link). 
According to Klis, the suspension stems from a September arrest for DUI. With the two-game ban, Jackson will be barred from playing in the team’s final games of 2019 against the Lions and Raiders.
Jackson, 31, joined the Broncos on a three-year, $33MM deal in March with $23MM guaranteed. Pro Football Focus’ No. 14-graded cornerback in 2018, Jackson began the 2018 season at safety for the Texans and fared well there, but was shifted back to corner later in the year.
With the Broncos, he’s started in all 13 of his games while seeing time at different spots in the secondary. His season will end with 71 total tackles, two interceptions (including one against his old friends in Houston), and a forced fumble.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Freedom Akinmoladun
- Placed on IR: DT Renell Wren
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Deyon Sizer
- Signed off Colts’ practice squad: NT Kyle Peko
- Waived: LB Ahmad Gooden
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: G Jake Eldrenkamp
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Joey Ivie
- Waived: CB Kareem Orr
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/19
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: WR Juwann Winfree
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed: CB Tae Hayes (from Jaguars)
- Placed on IR: DT Gerald Willis
Broncos CB Cyrus Jones Undergoes Open-Heart Surgery
Waived by the Ravens this season and then landing on the Broncos’ NFI list, Cyrus Jones revealed (Instagram link) he underwent open-heart surgery.
The 26-year-old cornerback revealed this operation was recommended to correct an issue, an anomalous coronary artery, he’s dealt with throughout his life. Anomalous coronary arteries are arteries growing in the wrong place and, despite being present at birth, can go undiagnosed for years, according to the Texas Heart Institute. This condition can lead to sudden death.
Jones shared news of his surgery two days ago. He began this season as the Ravens’ punt returner, a role he played for Baltimore’s 2018 edition. The former Patriots second-round pick returned a punt for a touchdown last season.
The Broncos did not use Jones in a game. He was briefly on Denver’s 53-man roster before being placed on the NFI list. Jones is due for unrestricted free agency in 2020.