Broncos Looking To Re-Sign Matt Paradis
Free agent Matt Paradis is generating some interest on the open market, but a return to Denver still sounds like it’s in the cards.
Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that the Broncos have restarted talks with the veteran center. However, Troy Renck of Denver7 adds that the 29-year-old snapper and the Broncos were not close in their talks earlier Monday evening.
We heard in late February that Denver was going to let Paradis hit the open market, and the Jets have been mentioned as one potential suitor for the 29-year-old. The five-year veteran is generally regarded as the top center on the market. Jason Kelce and Maurkice Pouncey recently increased the top of the center market to $11MM per year, meaning Paradis is in line for a lucrative payday.
As our own Sam Robinson wrote earlier today, given how teams have spent on offensive linemen in recent years, it is not out of the question that Paradis could exceed the deals received by Kelce and Pouncey. Ryan Jensen became the highest-paid center via 2018 free agency accord, and Paradis has a longer track record of success than Jensen. The Bills also made Mitch Morse the new highest-paid center earlier Monday, perhaps further raising Paradis’ asking price.
Having started every game with the Broncos since the start of the 2015 season, Paradis broke his fibula to end his 2018 season. But he is still likely to command a top-market contract, having been one of the NFL’s top centers since the 2016 season.
Klis tweets that the Broncos also restarted talks with offensive lineman Billy Turner today. However, it’s uncertain if the team still has interest in Turner following the signing of offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James.
Broncos To Add T Ja’Wuan James
After a quiet Monday afternoon, the Broncos are spending big as the night progresses. They have reached an agreement to bring in Ja’Wuan James, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
This will be a massive deal, with Schefter adding the five-year Dolphins blocker will become the NFL’s highest-paid right tackle. James will receive a four-year, $52MM deal, with $32MM of that being guaranteed. This comes barely an hour after the Broncos authorized a three-year, $33MM deal for Kareem Jackson.
Denver’s big move figures to stop its streak of one-and-done right tackle starters. Since Orlando Franklin was moved to guard before the 2014 season, the Broncos have used a different primary right tackle each year. This will mark the sixth straight season the Broncos will have a new Week 1 right tackle, but James has been a target for a while.
The Broncos had a trade in place to acquire James from the Dolphins, who would have gotten C.J. Anderson in the 2018 proposal, but Miami nixed the move and kept James as its right tackle starter. Although the Dolphins are taking a rebuilding approach this offseason, Chris Grier said at the Combine they wanted to retain James.
This represents a major markup at the right tackle position, with Lane Johnson previously being the only eight-figure-per-year player here. James’ $13MM-AAV deal will easily usurp the Eagles stalwart’s status ($11.25MM per year) at this spot.
Pro Football Focus has measured James, a 2014 first-round pick, as an above-average tackle. He graded as a top-35 tackle last season. The former Tennessee Volunteer, though, has encountered injury troubles. He missed eight games in 2017 and nine in 2015. Other than that, the 26-year-old blocker was Miami’s starter since Week 1 of his rookie year.
Denver pivoted from Franklin to Chris Clark to Ty Sambrailo to Michael Schofield to Donald Stephenson to Menelik Watson to Jared Veldheer. That succession will stop with James, with this contract tethering him to the Broncos for years.
Broncos To Sign DB Kareem Jackson
The Broncos entered this free agency period with needs at multiple secondary spots. They are signing a player with experience at both of them.
Denver reached an agreement to sign Kareem Jackson, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. It’s a three-year deal for the longtime Texans cornerback/safety. Jackson will join the Broncos for $33MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds the veteran defender will receive $23MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
This marks the second key defensive back the Texans have lost in the past two hours, with Tyrann Mathieu reaching a record-tying agreement to join the Chiefs. For the Broncos, Jackson adds some interesting flexibility and is coming off a Pro Bowl-caliber season. A nine-season Texans starter, Jackson was Houston’s longest-tenured player.
Pro Football Focus’ No. 14-graded cornerback in 2018, Jackson began the 2018 season at safety. He fared well there before being moved back to corner. The former first-round pick has been regarded as a top-flight tackler at the corner position throughout his career. The 2019 season will be Jackson’s age-31 campaign, so if he sticks at cornerback, Denver will have two corners north of 30.
Jackson’s impending deal may have interesting implications for longtime Broncos stalwart Chris Harris, who is no longer the team’s highest-paid corner. Jackson’s contract eclipses Harris’ by a considerable margin. Jackson has yet to make a Pro Bowl. Considering the soon-to-be 30-year-old Harris is one of this era’s premier corners, it will be interesting to see how Denver addresses the four-time Pro Bowler’s situation. The Broncos are believed to be discussing a Harris extension, but nothing is imminent on that front.
The Broncos also have a need at safety opposite Justin Simmons, with the team having released four-year starter Darian Stewart. While most of Jackson’s NFL experience has come at corner, and he should be considered likely to replace Bradley Roby as the starter opposite Harris, the team may have an interesting fallback option for the well-compensated free agent.
Broncos Still In On Roby
- Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby is “getting a lot of interest” from teams, according to James Palmer of NFL Network (Twitter link). Palmer reports that the competition for Roby seems to have narrowed down to the Texans, Browns, Steelers, 49ers, Raiders and Broncos. Everything we’ve heard recently has indicated Roby will be walking in free agency, so it would be a bit of a surprise if he returned to Denver. A 2014 first round pick, Roby has been a solid player but has never quite lived up to his draft status. He started 15 games for the Broncos last year.
Extra Points: Golden, Jackson, Marshall
Here’s the latest from around the NFL:
- The Giants have interest in Cardinals free agent Markus Golden, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As per usual, free agent pass rushers are expected to cash in big, so Golden could be looking at a substantial deal. Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher coached Golden in Arizona in 2016 when he notched 12.5 sacks, so it’s a logical fit.
- The Broncos placed a call on Malik Jackson after his release from Jacksonville, a source close to the player tells Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). However, the Broncos didn’t really need Jackson, and they have placed a greater emphasis on finding a nose tackle. Jackson, of course, inked a three-year, $30MM deal with the Eagles this morning.
- Five teams are interested in Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, according to ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). As previously reported, Marshall’s option for 2019 will not be exercised.
Broncos Exercise Sanders, Harris Options
As expected, Broncos picked up Emmanuel Sanders‘ $1.5MM option on Monday, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). With that, Sanders has $1.5MM fully guaranteed on his scheduled $10.25MM payout for 2019. For his part, Sanders has said he’s way ahead of schedule in his rehab from an Achilles injury. 
The Broncos also picked up their option on cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (Twitter link). The option, worth $1MM, will be followed by an additional $7.9MM payout in 2019.
Sanders, who will turn 32 on Sunday, recently balked at a potential pay cut. The Broncos, however, did not ask for a pay cut, so that was pretty much a moot point. Thanks to his fast recovery, Sanders should be able to return at some point during training camp.
Harris, meanwhile, is entering the final season of a five-year, $42.5MM deal. The contract has proven to be a tremendous value for the Broncos as Harris has blossomed into one of this era’s best cornerbacks. In 2018, Harris graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 overall CB. An extension could be on the way, but the Broncos first want to see how free agency plays out.
Broncos Rumors: Amos, Barrett, Paradis, James
Here’s the latest on the Broncos, with all links going to Troy Renck of Denver7’s Twitter:
- The Broncos are expected to chase big names when free agency opens, including safety Adrian Amos (link). Amos is reportedly searching for $9MM-10MM per year, so it could be a costly acquisition for Denver. The Broncos could be willing to spend for him, however, given Amos’ connection with new head coach Vic Fangio.
- The Broncos have had good conversations with the reps for center Matt Paradis and linebacker Shaquil Barrett, but the plan remains for both to test free agency, Renck hears (link). Barrett says he wants a starting role, so that could be a factor in where he lands. Paradis, meanwhile, is one of the best available centers in free agency, and he has drawn interest from the Jets.
- The Broncos also have interest in re-signing Jared Veldheer, but they’re likely to let him test free agency before getting deep into negotiations (link). Instead, the Broncos could turn their attention to right tackle Ja’Wuan James, who could leave the Dolphins in free agency this week.
Broncos Place Second-Round Tender On DL Shelby Harris
The Broncos have placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent defensive lineman Shelby Harris, according to Mike Klis of 9News.
Harris will now collect $3.095MM for the 2019 campaign. Theoretically, another team could sign Harris to an offer sheet, but they’d have to be willing to sacrifice a second-round pick. Additionally, Denver has the right to match any offer Harris may receive, so the tender almost certainly ties Harris to the Broncos’ roster for next season.
A seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2014, Harris bounced around the league, spending time with the Jets and Cowboys before signing a futures deal with the Broncos in 2017. That low-risk move has paid off ten-fold for Denver, as Harris has appeared in all 32 possible games over the past two years, seeing action on more than 35% of the Broncos’ defensive snaps in each season.
Harris, 27, posted seven sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 15 tackles for loss from 2017-18, and graded as the NFL’s No. 8 interior defender last year, per Pro Football Focus. His role could be set to expand in 2019, as the Broncos reportedly aren’t interested in re-signing veteran defensive tackle Domata Peko, who played 522 defensive snaps last season.
Broncos Break Off Talks With OT Billy Turner
- Broncos offensive tackle Billy Turner had been discussing an extension with the team, but those talks have “broken off”, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Rapoport writes that Turner will now hit the open market, and that the Broncos will now be a “prime” candidate to sign a right tackle in free agency. Turner started 11 games for the Broncos last season, earning average marks from Pro Football Focus.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/19
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Jets: TE Eric Tomlinson
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Broncos: LB Joseph Jones, WR Tim Patrick, S Dymonte Thomas, T Elijah Wilkinson
- Packers: G Justin McCray
- Raiders: LB Jason Cabinda, K Daniel Carlson
- Steelers: OL Matt Feiler, CB Mike Hilton
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: LB Jerrol Garcia-Williams