Broncos To Sign Bradley Chubb
Rookie defensive end Bradley Chubb is finalizing a contract agreement with the Broncos, a league source tells Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). Chubb’s No. 5 slot dictates that he’ll earn a $17.914MM signing bonus on a four-year deal worth about $27.27MM in total. 
Chubb was regarded by many as the best overall talent in this year’s draft. Luckily for the Broncos, the Browns (pick Nos. 1 and 4), Giants (No. 2), and Jets (No. 3) all had bigger needs to address elsewhere.
In his final year at N.C. State, Chubb won the Hendricks (best defensive end) and Bronko Nagurski (best defender) Awards while also earning first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC honors. After tallying 26 tackles for loss and ten sacks, he solidified his place as one of the very best prospects in the 2018 draft.
Chubb will be a Day 1 starter for the Broncos, lining up at defensive end opposite of Derek Wolfe. With the support and mentorship of Von Miller behind him, the Broncos are ecstatic about what Chubb can bring to the table this year and in the long run.
With Chubb taken care of, third-round running back Royce Freeman stands as the Broncos’ only unsigned selection. For a complete look at which rookies have signed and which rookies have not signed their deals, check out PFR’s tracker.
Carlos Henderson On Broncos' Bubble
- The Broncos added two receivers in the draft this year, and both Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton are locks to make the roster. This could leave a player the team was once high on out of a job. Carlos Henderson did not see the field as a rookie, spending all year on IR with a thumb injury. The 2017 third-round pick is now dealing with a hamstring malady, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic notes (subscription required). “(The injury) started in Phase 2 and hasn’t gotten better,” Vance Joseph said, via Jhabvala. “He’s got to get back on the field if he wants to make this football team.” Denver also has Jordan Taylor and Isaiah McKenzie vying for roster spots, with one of those two likely sticking around as the primary return man. Henderson produced eye-popping numbers at Louisiana Tech, and it would be a tad early for a team to give up on a third-rounder, but the slot target could be in danger of being cut by his first NFL team without having played in a regular-season game.
Aqib Talib On Blocking Trade To 49ers
In March, Broncos GM John Elway reached agreement on a deal to send Aqib Talib to the 49ers for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft. Or, so he thought. Talib blocked the deal, forcing Elway to instead send the cornerback to the Rams for a 2018 fifth-round choice. In an interview with Andy Benoit of SI.com, Talib said the notion of going to San Francisco was a non-starter for him. 
“I told [Elway], ‘I ain’t even gonna take no physical in San Fran, so there won’t be no trade,’” Talib said.
Ultimately, Talib was willing to play for only three teams – the Rams, Patriots, and Cowboys. The veteran cited familiarity – both on-and off-the-field – as the reason for his three-team list.
“I’m going on year 11, man. I’m not trying to go learn a whole new system. I wanted to go somewhere I’d be comfortable.” Talib said. “I’m comfortable if I can live at my house in Dallas and go just around the corner to work. I cut my bills in half. Or if I can go play in a defensive scheme that I’ve played in before. So I told him Dallas, New England or L.A.”
Ultimately, Talib got his way as he reunited with Wade Phillips in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the Rams assumed his contract, which calls for $11MM in 2018 and $8MM in 2019. Talib reportedly would have also been okay with an outright release, but he has no complaints after landing with one of his preferred teams – a Rams club that has gone to great lengths to improve its defense.
In addition to Talib, the Rams have also added defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters. On the other side of the Ball, the Rams brought in Brandin Cooks to offset the loss of Sammy Watkins.
Broncos' Jake Butt 'Totally Healthy'
- Excluding the 2 1/2 seasons Peyton Manning was healthy for the Broncos, the franchise has not been able to generate much from its tight end spot this decade. The Broncos, though, might have their best chance in a while to do so with one-time highly regarded prospect Jake Butt healthy. After essentially redshirting in 2017, which does not count as an accrued-service year for Butt since he spent it on Denver’s PUP list, the Michigan product could be in position to start. “He looks healthy, finally,” Vance Joseph said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. “ … Right now, he’s totally healthy.” The Broncos have struggled for three years to generate much in the passing game outside of their two starting wideouts, but with Butt in the mix, Case Keenum figures to have more options than his immediate predecessors. Denver used a 2017 third-round pick on Carlos Henderson only to see him miss all of his rookie year, and the Broncos now have second- and fourth-round picks Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton potentially ready to fill the auxiliary pass-catcher void.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut: LB Frank Ginda
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Bo Bower, DL Caushaud Lyons, OLB Antonio Simmons
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers from Titans: WR Zach Pascal
- Waived: Kayaune Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR DeAndre Smelter
- Waived: DT Michael Hughes
More Minor NFL Transactions: 6/14/18
Another round of minor moves from this evening:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: LS Christian Kuntz, QB Nick Stevens
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LS Andrew East, OT Sean Hickey
- Waived: FB Lamar Atkins, LS Colin Holba
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Algernon Brown, WR Josh Crockett, OT Bentley Spain
- Waived: OG Kaleb Johnson, RB J.D. Moore, DB Malik Reaves
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Trevor Darling, WR Josh Smith
- Waived: OL Cory Helms, FB Ryan Yurachek
Broncos Notes: Ware, Ray, Lynch
DeMarcus Ware will return to Denver and work with some of his former teammates. After months of trying, the Broncos hired the future Hall of Famer as a part-time coach, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Ware will work with the Broncos around 40 or 50 days this year, Mike Klis of 9News reports (Twitter link). Klis adds that Ware will work with the defensive assistants, some of whom were around during his final Broncos seasons. Ware received interest from the Cowboys for a similar consulting-type role but opted for the Denver job.
“I wish I could help out both teams, but with the league, you can’t do that,” Ware said, via Klis (on Twitter). “You’ve just got to choose your battles and this right here was my choice.”
Jhabvala notes Ware will work with Broncos outside linebackers and defensive ends, with Bradley Chubb likely his chief assignment, and will be at various practices and spend time in meetings with coaches.
“It’s great for Von (Miller),” Vance Joseph said, via Jhabvala. “D-Ware is the guy that Von followed. He became a great player under D-Ware’s watch, along with the coaches also obviously. But it’s great to have him here for all of our guys — for (Derek) Wolfe, for (Domata) Peko, for Von, for all of those guys. Rushing the passer in this league is a premium. You have to rush the passer, and our scheme is built around rushing the passer.”
Here’s the latest out of Denver, moving to one of Ware’s charges.
- Shane Ray‘s wrist surgery will involve bone fusion, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post tweets. Ray said Wednesday he’s still hoping to be on the field for Week 1. The former first-round pick began last season on IR because of a wrist injury, and after extensive medical counsel, he will undergo another wrist procedure. Ray was available during the Broncos’ 2017 offseason before suffering an injury during training camp. But he wasn’t the same upon return, failing to live up to his 2016 standards. The Broncos are better equipped to handle a Ray absence this year, with Chubb in the fold alongside Shaquil Barrett.
- Ray’s surgery might open the door for UDFA Jeff Holland. The Auburn product left school early only to go undrafted, but DC Joe Woods lavished high praise upon the rookie Wednesday. “We record all of the positive that guys make, and right now he’s blowing people away,” Woods said, via O’Halloran (Twitter link). Holland could be in line to make the Broncos as a backup outside linebacker. During their return to a 3-4 look, the Broncos have usually kept four outside linebackers — peaking with a Miller/Ware/Barrett/Ray setup in 2015-16. But with Ray sidelined, it’s possible Holland could forge a path to the 53-man roster — possibly as a fifth outside ‘backer due to the unique circumstances Denver’s dealing with at this spot.
- Paxton Lynch has looked like a more dedicated player this offseason, Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press writes. However, the third-year quarterback has yet to consistently wow observers on the practice field. Joseph attempted to shed additional light on why the franchise stuck with Lynch rather than using a draft pick on competition. “I think Paxton is really motivated to show everyone that he can be a No. 1 quarterback in this league, and watching him work this entire offseason he is different because I’ve seen him a lot more up in the halls here,” Joseph said, adding the Broncos having three offensive coordinators in three years has stunted the young passer’s progress. “And that takes time to find your comfort zone with coaches, with your organization.”
Broncos’ Clinton McDonald Takes Pay Cut
Broncos defensive tackle Clinton McDonald accepted a pay cut of $3MM for 2018, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, he can earn that back via $2MM in base salary and a $1MM roster bonus by being on the 53-man roster ($140,625/game) and 46-man roster ($46,875/game) for the full season. 
The Broncos’ likely requested the pay cut because of the shoulder injury that has kept the veteran from participating in OTAs. Per the terms of his free agent deal with Denver, McDonald had to pass a physical on or before June 11 in order to guarantee his $4MM salary for 2018. Because he was unable to get the medical greenlight, he is guaranteed just $1MM this year.
McDonald, 31, split time with Chris Baker in Tampa last year and recorded five sacks with 18 tackles. The sack total is impressive, though the advanced analytics at Pro Football Focus were not high on him.
The Broncos project to start Domata Peko in the middle with McDonald and Zach Kerr and/or Kyle Peko in support. DeShawn Williams, who signed a futures deal with the club in January, will also fight to make the final cut, but his path to the 53-man roster may be challenging unless McDonald is unable to play up to par this summer.
Chad Kelly "Pushing" Paxton Lynch?
- The Broncos insist they still have high hopes for 2015 first-rounder Paxton Lynch, but Mike Klis of 9News reports that Lynch “has been pushed by Chad Kelly“ for the backup quarterback role. If Kelly shows well this summer, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Broncos look to trade Lynch, like they reportedly have in the past.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 6/11/18
Another round of minor moves from today:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: S Quincy Mauger
Baltimore Ravens
- Cut: DB Robert Nelson
- Signed: DB Jackson Porter
Denver Broncos
- Waived/injured: LB Deiontrez Mount
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Joshua Perry
- Waived: OT Nick Callender