Tenders placed on Paradis, Barrett
Two of the Broncos’ own free agents may be sticking around for at least another year.
According to multiple NFL sources, the team on Monday placed second-round tenders on restricted free agents Matt Paradis and Shaquil Barrett worth $2.914 million apiece for one year, a significant pay raise from the $615,000 the two earned in base salary last year. Paradis and Barrett are allowed to negotiate with other teams before signing the tenders, but the Broncos have five days to match any offer sheet they sign or let them walk in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
Restricted free agents (RFAs) have at least three accrued seasons — seasons in which they’re on the active roster or injured reserve for at least six games — and have less control in determining their pay and destination.
Incumbent teams can extend these one-year tenders, which are essentially non-guaranteed tags worth a set amount depending on their designation — first round, second round, original round or right of first refusal only. Though the players can test their value on the market and sign elsewhere, the original teams have the right to match or receive draft compensation.
Paradis and Barrett have until April 20 to sign their tenders.
The Broncos had a third restricted free agent this year, wide receiver Bennie Fowler, but they did not place a tender on him. He will be an unrestricted free agent when the league year begins Wednesday.
Trying to retain Paradis and Barrett, however, was expected given their value to the Broncos in multiple phases.
Paradis, the only Broncos player to have played every offensive snap the last three seasons, is the anchor of the team’s evolving offensive line at center. A former sixth-round pick, Paradis was elevated to the starting job in 2015, the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50-winning season, to become Peyton Manning’s fifth center in only four years of time. Paradis returned the following season to start every game despite dealing with two bum hips. And he played last season after undergoing surgery on both hips early in the offseason.
Though the faces on either side of him have changed multiple times as the Broncos have attempted to improve the line, Paradis has been a constant. Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Paradis as the fifth-best center in the league in pass-blocking and credited him for allowing zero of the team’s 52 sacks last season. In 2016, while playing on two injured hips, Paradis was graded by PFF as the secondbest center overall, behind Atlanta’s Alex Mack.
“Matt Paradis is obviously a valuable part of our offensive line,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said late last season. “He’s the quarterback — he’s the center. He makes all the calls for us. He had a rough offseason. He had two hip surgeries that held him out until training camp. To watch him play every down for us, that’s amazing. He’s obviously a big part of what we’re doing looking forward.”
Barrett, an undrafted player out of Colorado State, was added to the Broncos’ practice squad in 2014 and worked his way to a key reserve role at linebacker. Last season, Barrett played the third-most snaps of any Broncos defender (67.2 percent of the defense), was a primary contributor on special teams (33.6 percent) and started nine games in place of the injured Shane Ray (wrist).
After recovering from a hip injury himself during the offseason, Barrett played the entire season and tallied 36 total tackles (30 solo), four sacks, two forced fumbles and 12 quarterback hits, second-most on the team behind Von Miller.
“I knew Shaq could play by watching his tape,” Joseph said. “Obviously, being a three, it’s tough to get enough reps to show that you can be a dominate rusher. Shaq has special talent as a rusher. As a run defender, he’s played really well for us. When Shaq is in a football game, he is as a starter for me. He’s had a good year for us after having a rough summer. He had a rough summer, came back Week 1 and got a sack. I’ve been proud of what Shaq’s done.”
ERFAs tendered.
The Broncos have tendered all seven of their exclusive-rights free agents: wide receiver Jordan Taylor, long snapper Casey Kreiter, defensive end Shelby Harris, offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson and linebackers Zaire Anderson, Jerrol Garcia-Williams and Joe Jones.
Exclusive-rights tenders are typically formalities. ERFAs have less than two accrued seasons and are essentially the property of their current team, should the team make them a one-year qualifying offer for the minimum salary. Unlike restricted free agents, ERFAs are not allowed to negotiate with other teams. If no tender is made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.