George Paton, Denver Broncos, made the first moves of his term. After releasing nearly $ 25 million in space, releasing defender AJ Bouye and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, the Broncos now have about $ 48.4 million in capitalization space approaching the free agency period.
The space created by the caps puts Broncos in the top-5 in the available space of caps in the entire league, but this space can dissipate quickly because the options, auctions and the franchise label (potentially) are placed on different players.
One of the biggest questions Paton faces in 2021 is what to do with the stylist Von Miller. Following the absence of the 2020 season after suffering a dislocated peroneal tendon in an ankle that required surgery, the future of the future 32-year-old from Denver was clouded.
The reason for Miller’s uncertain future in Denver is not due to his level of play, as he is still considered one of the most important passengers in the entire NFL, despite being over the hill for 30 years. It is his swollen blow in 2021 that drives the water crazy.
Currently scheduled to total $ 22,225 million against the ceiling, the Broncos could save $ 18 million with just $ 4,225 million in dead money, not exercising Miller’s option this season. With Denver facing a decision on the future of free agent safety, the future of Justin Simmons, defensive lineman Shelby Harris is set to enter the open market and the obvious holes in the corner, the Broncos expect to spend a decent portion of their available cover on a veteran backup defender. Every dollar counts.
Losing Miller would hurt, but it might be the easiest way for Paton to create space for the lid now that Bouye and Casey have been released. Will the Broncos make that difficult decision?
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee showNFL reporter Ian Rapoport sheds light on Miller’s future prospects in Denver.
If it’s free, it will have a very good market, “Rapoport told host Pat McAfee.” I will say at this point, I doubt he is free, because they received the team’s option. I don’t think they will choose the option, because I think there is a good chance – I think there is a real chance that the two sides will come together and make sense. He wants to end his career in Denver. He is wonderful. Lost last year with an injury. They have space for the lid. It’s hard to get better at letting one of your best players go, so I’d imagine there’s some sort of trade-off to smooth out the blow to the lid and make sense of it.
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As Miller even reacted to the notion of contractual restructuring on 104.3 fans Stokely and Zach shows earlier this season, much of the Broncos Country was rightly 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.
Just like when DeMarcus Ware left Dallas for the Broncos, not all legends play their entire careers for the team that signed them to the NFL today. Broncos has plenty of room to exercise Miller’s option this year and survive, but as Rapoport said, Paton is more likely to work out an extension with Miller’s camp to add years to his business, increasing the money guaranteed in the following years and reduce part of the ceiling of Von in 2021 came in the following years, in which the ceiling should be trending once again.
Miller’s still incredibly valuable expansion for years to come, while increasing spending flexibility by lowering Von’s 2021 cap is smart accounting and smart business. Of course, there is always a certain level of concern, extending an aging student coming out of a serious injury.
The Broncos, as McAfee will later say in the interview, could certainly use the ceiling savings to move from Miller to be more aggressive in the quarterback market this year. However, apart from Dak Prescott who could become available, there is really no defender worth even thinking about giving money to the free market.
If the Broncos are able to work out an extension and a restructuring for Miller, Denver adds financial flexibility in an off-season where not many teams will be able to spend. This advantage could give Denver a chance to make some short-term bargains, and if not, Paton can only use the ceiling savings created by a restructuring to move on to 2022.
By eliminating the release of Bouye and Casey, the decisions now become much more difficult for Paton. Can Broncos reach a long-term deal with Simmons before he has to use the franchise label?
Will Denver exercise Miller’s contract option for 2021 or can the two sides reach an agreement to extend Von and make his salary more friendly to the team during a limited season? For those hoping that Miller will become one of the few elite players to play his entire career with a single team, Rapoport’s latest information ignites new optimism, despite Von’s ongoing legal question marks.
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