Broncos To Sign Phil Taylor
The Broncos have signed defensive tackle Phil Taylor, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Taylor was cut by Cleveland in September of last year but never hooked on with another club in the 2015 season. Now, he could be a potential fill-in for Malik Jackson if the Broncos defensive lineman leaves the team in free agency.
A first-round pick in 2011, Taylor was cut by the Browns at his request before the 2015 season when it became clear that Danny Shelton would be the club’s starting nose tackle. Taylor did not find an NFL home after that, though he did get glances from the Steelers, Ravens, and Vikings. In December, he worked out for Denver and he apparently made a good impression on the team.
Had he stayed in Cleveland for the season, Taylor would have earned $5.477MM in salary. Instead, he accepted a three-week injury settlement, which works out to a $966,529 payment. Fiscally, Taylor’s decision did not work out to his benefit.
Taylor, 28, was a starter on defense for Cleveland in 2013, but only played 555 defensive snaps, serving primarily as a run stopper. While he wasn’t a full-time player, Taylor’s performance against the run still placed him a solid 26th among 69 qualified defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. He then played just 133 snaps in 2014 before being sidelined with a knee injury.
Taylor was the Browns’ last remaining player from the Julio Jones trade with the Falcons several years ago. After his release, the Browns had nothing to show for that deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Rumors: Pats, Osweiler, Raiders, Browns
The Patriots offered Tyrunn Walker a three-year deal as a non-tendered restricted free agent, but the defensive tackle opted to sign a one-year pact with the Lions instead. New England could have interest again, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss reports.
New Lions GM Bob Quinn, formerly the Patriots’ scouting director, knows his former team’s interest well, and Reiss wonders how much that will play into Detroit’s decision on whether to retain the fifth-year lineman. A broken leg limited Walker to four games last season.
Potentially as a result of the then-24-year-old Walker spurning their offer, the Pats used their first-round pick on Malcom Brown. They have starters Brown and 2014 first-rounder Dominique Easley under contract, with only Alan Branch looming as a free agent. A deal for Walker doesn’t seem to make as much sense for the Patriots as it did last year.
The Lions enter 2016 with more defensive tackle queries after the franchise faced major uncertainty last offseason, when Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley both bolted. Detroit’s follow-up plan included bringing in Walker from the Saints and trading for Haloti Ngata. Both are free agents now.
Walker remains in rehab mode after also dislocating his ankle in Week 4 against the Seahawks, and ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein writes that the Lions should use this as an opportunity to keep the talent entering his age-26 season on a one- or two-year deal, where he can prove he’s an elite talent.
Here’s some more from around the AFC.
- Steelers GM Kevin Colbert‘s already stated he will remain true to Pittsburgh’s build-from-within model and is eyeing a production leap from one of the Steelers’ holdover defenders, similar to how Cameron Heyward ascended in 2014 and Stephon Tuitt last season. “We talked about that last year, the progression has to outpace the regression of some of the older guys,” Colbert told media, including Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I think outside help will be important but also those young guys taking that next step.” Colbert singled out linebackers Bud Dupree and Ryan Shazier, whom the Steelers used their past two first-round picks on, as potential ascending cogs. The Steelers, however, have fortified their front seven well, housing four first-round linebackers and signing Heyward to an extension last year. Pittsburgh’s pass defense slunk from 27th to 30th last season. Kaboly identifies second-year player Senquez Golson as a prime performer to elevate the Steelers’ pass defense from in-house. The 2015 second-rounder missed the entire season due to injury.
- Given that the Browns are regularly early-first-round drafters but haven’t selected a quarterback in the top five since Tim Couch in 1999, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer doesn’t envision the Browns trading out of their No. 2 spot. While there aren’t rock-solid top-five quarterbacks in this prospect pool as there have been in recent years, the Browns have better odds at drafting this class’ best quarterback since the Titans won’t take one at No. 1. Cleveland took three QBs at No. 22 overall in the past nine years — Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel — only for all to falter. Cabot points to the Browns’ trading down from No. 4 to No. 8 and ending up with Justin Gilbert instead of Sammy Watkins as an example that would make Cleveland hesitant to orchestrate such a maneuver with this kind of glaring need.
- The Broncos shouldn’t give in to the escalating demands of the quarterback market in assessing their potential offer to free agent Brock Osweiler, Mark Kizsla of the Denver Post writes. Using recent contracts given to Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Matt Cassel, Kizsla recommends Denver offer Osweiler no more than $10MM per season, as the team’s proven it can win a Super Bowl with adequate quarterback play. Troy Renck of the Denver Post counters that Foles’ three-year, $36MM deal fits for Osweiler, who went 4-2 in games he started and played throughout, and that a $10MM offer would force Denver to scramble for lower-tier options like Robert Griffin III.
- Mackensie Alexander or Eli Apple could be options for the Raiders at No. 14, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. The Raiders are thin at corner, with waiver claim David Amerson residing as their best in-house option. But Oakland’s safety situation needs work too. After Charles Woodson‘s retirement, the Raiders cut and then re-signed Nate Allen at a lower salary.
David Bruton Wants To Return To Broncos
Safety David Bruton will be eligible to sign anywhere in a few weeks, but he says his preference is to stay with the defending World Champions, as Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post tweets. However, there figures to be a pretty healthy market for Bruton this spring. The Broncos safety tells Wolfe that he’s heard the Bears, Dolphins, and Giants are interested in him. 
[RELATED: Malik Jackson Talks Free Agency, Broncos’ QBs]
Bruton could also be pricing himself out of Denver. The safety told Wolfe (link) that he is eyeing a three-year, $15MM deal like the one that Justin Bethel received from the Cardinals. With more pressing needs to address, it would be surprising to see the Broncos give him that sort of deal prior to the start of free agency or even early on that week. The Broncos project to have T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart at safety, so they can afford to let Bruton go if he does not fit into the budget.
Bruton was placed on IR in December after breaking his leg and, therefore, did not play in the Super Bowl. Remarkably, Bruton played through three quarters of a late-season tilt against the Steelers with a broken fibula and, by his own estimation, he could have played in SB50 had he been eligible (link). At this point, Bruton says he’s 100% and is already riding bikes and doing squats in preparation for next season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
West Notes: Osweiler, 49ers, Chargers, Rams
Will the Broncos retain Brock Osweiler and install him as the team’s new starting QB in 2016, in the event that Peyton Manning retires? Running back Ronnie Hillman thinks so.
“It’s not my decision, but letting him go would not be too smart,” Hillman told SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter).
Of course, Hillman himself might not be back in 2016, considering he’s also approaching free agency. The 24-year-old is coming off his best season, but he has been up and down during his four years in Denver, and he didn’t make a real impact in the playoffs — he ran for just 54 yards on 32 postseason carries, including zero yards on five attempts in the Super Bowl.
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s West divisions:
- In a pair of pieces for the Sacramento Bee, Matt Barrows previews the decisions facing the 49ers in their offensive backfield this offseason, as the team looks to address its quarterback and running back situations. According to Barrows, the draft combine will provide a prime opportunity for the Niners to assess the QBs set to hit the market, along with potential draft targets.
- Mark Whicker of the Los Angeles Daily News is extremely skeptical that the Chargers will get the votes they need from the city of San Diego to approve a new stadium.
- The Seahawks, Chiefs, and Broncos are among the teams in great position to pick up extra picks for the 2017 draft, as Nick Konte of Over the Cap explains in his early look at next year’s compensatory picks.
- Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com wonders if Robert Griffin III might be a good fit in Los Angeles. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said last year that he likes the idea of having a mobile quarterback who can extend plays, which seems to apply to RGIII’s skill set.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Malik Jackson Talks Free Agency, Broncos’ QBs
With noteworthy Broncos players like quarterback Brock Osweiler and outside linebacker Von Miller also eligible for free agency this winter, defensive end Malik Jackson may be a little overlooked around the NFL as the new league year approaches. However, he’s a priority in Denver, with a weekend report suggesting that the team is “negotiating in earnest” in an effort to retain Jackson.
As those discussions continue, Jackson appeared on the NFL Network on Monday to discuss his contract situation and the Broncos’ outlook at quarterback. Via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, who recapped the defensive lineman’s comments in a pair of stories, here are a few of the highlights from Jackson during that conversation:
On the possibility of testing the free agent market:
“In talking to my agent, I got a pretty good idea of what my worth is. But I would like to see — because you never know — just to see the numbers. But if Denver came with quality numbers close to what we feel I deserve, then I would stay.”
On staying with a contending team vs. seeking out the best possible contract offer:
“I think it’s 50-50. That’s what makes it so hard, because you want to get paid. That’s your dream, to get paid and take care of your family. But you still want to win, too.“
On the possibility of Osweiler returning as the Broncos’ starting quarterback:
“He’s definitely someone who’s proven. He’s been underpaid for four years, quietly waiting. When he got his chance to go, he really outperformed himself. I think with the defense they have in Denver, you could put Brock back there and he’ll definitely win some games with them.”
On Manning’s potential retirement:
“To be honest with you, I think throughout the whole year I think it’s kind of been hard, getting hurt and everything, I think you can kinda see it take a toll throughout the season. I think when he talked to the team going into the game Saturday night you could kind of feel like the way he was talking, he was getting a little emotional. I don’t know if that was his last speech before a team, but you could definitely tell maybe it was getting closer. He kind of felt an extra type of why about this game to really want to go out there and win.”
Bucs To Hire Broncos Exec John Spytek
The Bucs will hire former Broncos national scout John Spytek as their new director of player personnel, according to Rick Stroud of WDAE (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: PFR’s Offseason Outlook For The Tampa Bay Buccaneers]
Spytek has ten-plus years of experience in the NFL, including the last two years with Denver. Spytek was in charge of scouting the Southwest region for the Broncos in 2013 and was promoted to national scout in 2014. Prior to his time with the Broncos, Spytek spent three seasons as the Browns’ director of college scouting. In his time with Cleveland, the Browns produced PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team selections and drafted four players who went on to make the Pro Bowl in 2013.
In other Buccaneers news, GM Jason Licht recently said that the team will be wary of spending big in free agency this spring. For his part, Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander wants to see his team add some tough defensive ends, but it remains to be seen how that will be prioritized given the team’s budget.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2016 NFL Franchise Tag Candidates
On Tuesday, February 16th, NFL teams will be able to place franchise and transition tags on potential free agents for the first time. While the window for franchise tags opens at that point, most clubs won’t actually tag any players right away.
As our list of important dates for the 2016 offseason shows, the deadline for teams to assign those franchise and transition tags comes two weeks later, on Tuesday, March 1st. Generally when it comes to NFL contract discussions, deadlines spur action, so teams will likely wait until closer to that March deadline to officially use franchise tags, once it becomes clear that they won’t be able to strike a longer-term deal yet with their respective free-agents-to-be.
Even though the action might not heat up for a couple more weeks, it’s worth taking a closer look at what to expect during 2016’s franchise tag period. We don’t know yet what the exact salary amounts for franchise tags will be, since the NFL has yet to announce the salary cap figure for the coming year. But back in November, former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com projected the 2016 franchise tag salaries, based on a presumed cap of $154MM. Here are the non-exclusive franchise tag amounts projected by Corry:
- Quarterback: $19.748MM
- Running back: $11.871MM
- Wide receiver: $14.527MM
- Tight end: $9.053MM
- Offensive line: $13.678MM
- Defensive end: $15.494MM
- Defensive tackle: $13.368MM
- Linebacker: $14.131MM
- Cornerback: $13.838MM
- Safety: $10.717MM
- Punter/kicker: $4.534MM
Those numbers are unlikely to be 100% accurate, but the actual figures won’t be drastically different, so we can use them as points of reference when considering which players are candidates to be franchised in 2016.
For a refresher on the characteristics of the exclusive and non-exclusive franchise tags, as well as the transition tag, be sure to check out PFR’s glossary entry on the subject. Once you’re up to speed, let’s dive in and take a look at the most likely candidates to be tagged, along with several more outside possibilities….
Virtual locks:
Broncos pass rusher Von Miller was viewed as the top player in this year’s group of potential free agents even before he terrorized Cam Newton in Santa Clara and earned Super Bowl MVP honors. Now, there’s no doubt that Denver will do all it can to retain the former second overall pick. The only questions for Miller are whether he’ll reach a long-term deal with the Broncos before the club needs to franchise him, and whether he’d get the exclusive or non-exclusive tag.
Panthers cornerback Josh Norman didn’t make the same impact in Super Bowl 50 that Miller did, but Carolina still seems likely to franchise him to avoid letting him hit the open market. The franchise tag for cornerbacks is projected to be worth nearly $14MM, but the Panthers are in better cap shape than they have been in recent years, and can afford to take the hit.
Meanwhile, it has been a few years since a quarterback was franchised, but Washington signal-caller Kirk Cousins is a strong candidate. Reports have indicated the team won’t let him get away, but the two sides apparently aren’t close to a multiyear agreement, which makes the franchise tag the most logical option at this point.
Strong candidates:
A year or two ago, Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery would have been a no-brainer candidate for the franchise tag. However, 2015 was an up-and-down season for Jeffery, who only played in nine games due to injury issues. When he did play, Jeffery was excellent, averaging a career-high 89.7 yards per game, and few teams have more projected cap room this offseason than Chicago, so it seems unlikely that the team would let the wideout get away — especially given how weak the market for receivers is this year, outside of Jeffery.
The Jets are facing an interesting predicament on their defensive line with Damon Harrison and Muhammad Wilkerson eligible for free agency this winter. Harrison isn’t a franchise tag candidate, and the Jets could conceivably re-sign him at a reasonable price, then move forward with a defensive line of Harrison, Sheldon Richardson, and Leonard Williams. However, letting an asset like Wilkerson get away for nothing isn’t great business, which is why he has been viewed as an intriguing tag-and-trade candidate for New York.
Elsewhere in the AFC East, the Bills and Dolphins don’t have a ton of cap flexibility, which could affect their decisions on offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and defensive end Olivier Vernon, respectively. There are ways for Buffalo and Miami to create the space necessary to tag their free-agents-to-be, but 
both teams already have plenty of highly-paid veterans on their books, so the decisions aren’t no-brainers. I think Glenn, at least, is slightly more likely than not to be tagged, but both players could conceivably reach the open market.
Safety Eric Berry had a tremendous comeback season in 2015, and it would put something of a damper on that story for the Chiefs to allow him to sign elsewhere next month. A $10MM+ price tag for a safety isn’t cheap, but it’s a more affordable tag than most positions, so I think Kansas City will have to strongly consider using it if the team can’t agree on a longer-term contract with Berry. As last year’s negotiations with Justin Houston showed, the Chiefs aren’t afraid to franchise a player, then work out a multiyear pact with him later in the offseason.
One position that’s significantly cheaper than safety is kicker, where Corry projects a salary in the $4.5MM range. The Ravens and Justin Tucker have reportedly been negotiating a potential extension for over a year, but with the franchise deadline approaching, the team isn’t afraid to use a tag on Tucker, if it comes to that.
Long shots:
The Jets want to extend Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Eagles have spoken highly of Sam Bradford, but it appears unlikely that either quarterback will get franchised. At least one report has indicated that the Eagles aren’t expected to use their franchise tag to retain Bradford, and a price tag of nearly $20MM seems too high for Fitzpatrick.
Like Fitzpatrick, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is a player whose team badly wants to re-sign him, but may view the franchise tag salary as too high. For running backs, the tag could be worth nearly $12MM, which would make Martin the second-highest-paid RB in the NFL – behind Adrian Peterson – by a comfortable margin. For a player who has been as inconsistent as Martin, that seems excessive.
A handful of offensive linemen are possible candidates to be tagged by their respective teams, including Kelechi Osemele (Ravens), Russell Okung (Seahawks), Mitchell Schwartz (Browns), Kelvin Beachum (Steelers), and Andre Smith (Bengals). However, I’d be a little surprised if even one of those five got the franchise tag. Since there’s only one price tag for all offensive linemen, the projected salary ($13.678MM) is left-tackle money, and Osemele, Schwartz, and Smith haven’t seen much – if any – playing time at left tackle. As for Okung and Beachum, I’m skeptical that their teams will want to invest too heavily in them, since they haven’t been consistently healthy and elite in recent years.
If the Broncos strike a long-term deal with Miller soon, it would free up the franchise tag for quarterback Brock Osweiler or defensive end Malik Jackson. Even in the unlikely event that Miller and the Broncos agree to terms quickly though, the franchise salaries for Osweiler and Jackson may be a little too high.
Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul got the franchise tag last year, but it’ll be pricier this season, and obviously there are more question marks this time around, given the state of his right hand. As such, I don’t think he’s a real candidate to be tagged, despite New York’s significant cap space. Bengals safety Reggie Nelson seems like a similar long-shot — he had another good season in 2015, earning his first Pro Bowl nod, but it would be surprising to see a team commit $10MM+ to a 33-year-old safety.
Finally, Tucker isn’t the only kicker or punter who has a shot to be tagged. Jaguars punter Bryan Anger, Raiders punter Marquette King, and Packers kicker Mason Crosby are among the other special teams candidates. They’re all less likely than Tucker to be franchised, but the Jags and Raiders have the most cap room in the NFL, so they could certainly afford it.
AFC Notes: Browns, Jets, Jackson, Raiders
Let’s take a look at the latest from the AFC franchises on the first 2016 Sunday without football, beginning in Cleveland, where uncertainty exists throughout the receiving corps.
- The Browns will go after one or both free agent Bengals wide receivers, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. The former Hue Jackson charges are available at a need area for the Browns, who may lose Travis Benjamin and are uncertain of Josh Gordon‘s playing status. Cabot puts Gordon being back in Cleveland this fall at 50-50. Gordon has not been reinstated yet after applying on Jan. 20, per Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).
- Conversely, Cabot expects Cleveland to cut Dwayne Bowe after the highly paid receiver struggled to get on the field in one of the most disappointing seasons for a wideout in recent memory. Due the team’s fourth-highest cap charge at $8MM in 2016, Bowe will cost the Browns $4.6MM in dead money if they release the declining 31-year-old target. The team will save $3.4MM by making this move, however.
- Underachieving cornerback Justin Gilbert, however, may not be joining 2014 first-round disappointment Johnny Manziel among players departing the Browns, Cabot writes, with Ray Horton‘s secondary background potentially serving as a last hope of sorts for the top-10 pick. Gilbert would cost the Browns $7.58MM if cut.
- Malik Jackson will command more money than Broncos end cohort Derek Wolfe, Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes. Wolfe signed a four-year, $36.7MM extension in January. Jackson, who’s had the more consistent career, will probably be an eight-figure AAV player if he signs with the Broncos or elsewhere after his success despite playing three different positions — defensive tackle, 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 end — the past three seasons.
- Muhammad Wilkerson should expect to be franchise-tagged, Seth Walder of the New York Daily News writes. Despite Wilkerson expressing frustration last offseason about playing under his fifth-year option and the Jets employing Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams, Gang Green will look to keep Wilkerson on the tag, Walder writes. The Jets could still try to trade the sixth-year end after tagging him, Walder writes, and could plan on paying him (the tag was $14.8MM for ends last year) this season before letting him walk in 2017. They’d receive a compensatory draft choice once he signs elsewhere in that scenario.
- Walder slots Ryan Fitzpatrick first and Damon Harrison third, respectively, among the Jets’ offseason priorities. He expects Fitzpatrick to receive a contract around the same parameters as the Rams’ Nick Foles accord that stands to pay him $13.8MM in guarantees on the two-year extension he signed. Walder anticipates Fitzpatrick requiring more guaranteed money to stay with the Jets but a two-year offer would be realistic.
- Donald Penn will probably be back with the Raiders after the team explores the market, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap writes. The Raiders have a league-most $71.93MM worth of cap space, so they could easily afford to keep their left tackle of the past two seasons. Penn will be 33 in April, so it won’t take a long-term deal to keep him in Oakland. Former starters Rod Streater and Andre Holmes will be allowed to find other opportunities, Fitzgerald writes, while the team should discuss extensions for contract-year running backs Latavius Murray and Marcel Reece.
Broncos Notes: Osweiler, Ware, Clady
While we learned earlier today the Broncos are making a push to keep Malik Jackson off the free agent market, they haven’t been as proactive with Brock Osweiler. Mike Klis of 9News reports the Super Bowl champions are waiting on beginning negotiations with the fifth-year quarterback “out of respect” for Peyton Manning‘s decision on whether to retire or return for a 19th season.
Manning’s $19MM salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the Broncos’ roster on March 9, so talks with Osweiler should be commencing soon, as only second-year player Trevor Siemian is the only other quarterback on Denver’s roster. Klis notes the sides could begin talking at the NFL Scouting Combine, which starts Feb. 23.
The Broncos will likely have to offer more than $9MM per season to keep Osweiler and either approach — or surpass — the $12.5MM AAV deal Nick Foles is signed to in order to keep their longtime backup off the free agent market. Osweiler’s small work sample and a quarterback-starved market have created a wide range of contract expectations for him. Klis set that range at anywhere from $11MM to $17MM annually and for the pact to be between three and five years.
Denver could possess nearly $27MM in cap room if Manning decides to retire.
Sam Bradford, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kirk Cousins and Chase Daniel are the notable signal-callers looming as unrestricted free agents that quarterback-needy teams like the Texans, Jets and Rams could also pursue if they in fact hit the market. Cousins and Washington don’t have much common ground as of yet.
Here’s more news coming out of Denver.
- Von Miller and the Broncos haven’t engaged in talks yet, according to Klis. They are expected to place the franchise tag, estimated to be worth around $14MM for 2016 for linebackers, on the sixth-year edge-rusher and can negotiate with Miller on a long-term extension until July 15. Klis expects Miller to command more than Justin Houston‘s $16.83MM AAV and perhaps exceed Ndamukong Suh‘s $19.06 annual average after dominating in the Broncos’ championship-cementing contests.
- DeMarcus Ware could be a potential cap casualty as the Broncos prepare to keep their top-tier free agents, and the Denver Post’s Woody Paige expects the team to move on from the stellar pass-rushing presence. Ware collected two sacks in Super Bowl 50 and 3.5 in the playoffs for the Broncos, but the four-time first-team All-Pro will be 34 when they convene for training camp. Entering the final season of his three-year, $30MM deal, Ware is slated to occupy $11.66MM of Denver’s salary cap. He missed five games this season with a back injury but booked his ninth Pro Bowl honor. The Broncos have cheaper options behind Ware in Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray, although neither are on Ware’s level at this point.
- The Broncos also have decisions ahead regarding their offensive line, with two 2015 starters, Evan Mathis and Ryan Harris, set for free agency. Paige expects Ryan Clady, who missed 2015 with a torn ACL and said he’d be willing to restructure his contract that’s set to pay him $9.5MM in base salary this coming season, to be back at a lower price but for Louis Vasquez to be released. Denver’s starting right guard the past three seasons and a first-team All-Pro in 2013, Vasquez is entering the final year of his contract and is due to take up $6.75MM of the Broncos’ cap in ’16. Moving into Gary Kubiak‘s zone-blocking system, Vasquez struggled at points last season, rating 50th among guards on Pro Football Focus’ grading scale. Max Garcia, who spelled both Mathis and Vasquez as a rookie, will start at left guard next season, according to Klis, who believes Vasquez will be back at right guard.
- If the Broncos retain Jackson, they won’t enough money to retain Danny Trevathan, Klis writes in the same piece. He expects the versatile linebacker to sign a deal that pays Trevathan between $5MM and $7MM yearly. Trevathan started throughout the 2013 and ’15 seasons for the Broncos, playing outside in John Fox‘s 4-3 scheme and inside in Wade Phillips‘ 3-4. A sixth-round pick of the Fox-led Broncos’ in 2012, Trevathan expects to receive interest from the Bears.
Broncos Attempting To Re-Sign Malik Jackson
The Broncos are “negotiating in earnest” with pending free agent defensive end Malik Jackson, reports Mike Klis of 9 News. However, the two sides aren’t yet close to reaching a new deal, meaning that Jackson is still likely to enter free agency on March 9.
Denver, of course, has already committed a large sum to its other defensive end, as it agreed to a four-year, $36.75MM extension with Derek Wolfe last month. The 26-year-old Jackson is surely looking to match, or perhaps top, that figure, and given the recent deals handed out 3-4 defensive ends, he should be able to cash out on the open market. With his new deal, Wolfe became the seventh 3-4 DE to top the $9MM/per year mark, a list that includes Mike Daniels, Corey Liuget, and Cameron Jordan — all of whom signed extensions in the past year — so Jackson will presumably use that average annual value as his target.
[RELATED: Denver expected to use franchise tag on LB Von Miller]
But cap space might be an issue, as the Broncos are projected to head into the offseason with only ~$7.4MM in cap room. Of course, that counts Peyton Manning‘s 2016 cap charge of $21.5MM, which should vanish if he retires or is released. Other moves can be made as well — left tackle Ryan Clady has indicated he’s open to restructuring his contract, while linebacker DeMarcus Ware could be cut (and as we learned yesterday, Ware’s fate may indeed be correlated to whether Denver can retain Jackson).
The biggest obstacle to re-signing Jackson, however, might be that the Broncos also need to retain Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. A one-year franchise tag would cost Denver about $14MM, and even a long-term extension with Miller figures to feature a high year-one cap charge (per Klis, the Miller and the Broncos have not yet begun negotiating). General manager John Elway admitted last week that money could get tight, noting that “it’s a fluid situation and our budget is only so big,” especially given that starting linebacker Danny Trevathan is also a free agent.
[RELATED: Broncos tight end Owen Daniels plans to return in 2016]
For his part, Jackson sounds amenable to remaining in Denver for the long haul, but also realizes that this is his best opportunity to cash in via free agency. “For me, I would love to say here and just continue with my boys, continue this run with them and try to get another one with this defense,” Jackson said during an appearance on Pro Football Talk Live last week. “It is a business, so we’ll see what happens.“