Might be time to let go of Vonster
We love Shaq Barrett. But Shaq Barrett has two Super Bowl rings because Peyton Manning was his quarterback in 2015 and Tom Brady was his signal-caller in 2020.
The four seasons in between, three of them here, his teams averaged 6.8 wins a year.
Von Miller’s record in Denver since Manning retired? 32-48.
Now let’s be clear: That ain’t the Vonster’s fault. On a pair of healthy legs, he’s one of the top five pass-rushers in the game. Joe Flacco wasn’t his idea. When 58 could do his job, he’s done it well.
Miller has one year left on his current contract. New Broncos general manager George Paton has six. Keep that in mind Tuesday in case things go off the rails.
At $22.1 million, the Vonster is slated to take up 11% of the Broncos’ cap space for 2021. He’s the Rolls Royce you splurge on when you’re one player away.
The Broncos haven’t been one player away for half a decade.
Miller isn’t Nolan Arenado, although losing him is going to hurt the same. If not more. The Broncos are like the Rockies in that they stubbornly refuse to entertain a rebuild while simultaneously playing in a division in which second place feels like the ceiling, every year.
At least the Rockies somehow figure out a way to beat the Dodgers every once in a blue moon. Which is more than we can say about the Broncos against the Chiefs.
If Paton is going to get the elbow room and payroll flexibility to craft a roster, the man needs cap space first. Letting Miller walk on Tuesday would clear up $13.88 million. Moving on from safety Kareem Jackson, which the Broncos decided to do Monday night, opens up another $7.1 million.
For weeks, it felt like an 11thhour deal with Von was only a matter of time. At least, until Monday. When NFL free agency made its unofficial start, Paton made a few nibbles early, signing
cornerback Ronald Darby to a three-year, $30-million deal and re-upping with swat specialist Shelby Harris for three years and $27 million.
So far, John Elway’s replacement is walking the walk. Safety Justin Simmons got tagged, but all signs point to a long-term deal around the bend. Harris landed a contract that was overdue. That’s a sign of committing to a pair of good, core defenders who also happen to be allaround good guys. For a team that’s been criticized internally for not taking care of its own, it also sends the right message to the locker room as to who’s getting paid. And why.
Darby can fly if he’s healthy, although that’s a pretty big if, given that he averaged only 9.3 games per season the three years before 2020.
Signing a clone of Bryce Callahan sounds, on paper, like more of a Vic Fangio move than a safe one, but it’s another veteran option. And it gives you the wiggle room to not get boxed into drafting a plug-and-play corner at No. 9, assuming you’re still hanging onto the draft pick.
Meanwhile, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, coming off his first season of double-digit sacks, landed $16 million per year from the Rams. And the ceiling for Miller on the open market crept up another few decimal points.
Of all the outcomes from Von Deadline Day, the most shocking would be if 58 agrees to a pay cut, even in the short term.
It takes two to tango. Free agency can offer the Vonster at least one thing right now that the Broncos can’t: A franchise that’s in a better position to play in a Super Bowl within the next two years.
Paton’s eyes are on 2023. And 2024.
The Broncos have to find their Deshaun Watson. Or their Justin Herbert. Draft one. Sign one. Steal one. Doesn’t matter.
If you give two bits about a championship foundation, it starts there. If you care about the Broncos living up to the legacy Dove Valley was built upon, it starts there.
If you want to beat Kansas
City at least once before the next global pandemic comes around, it starts there.
Everything else is secondary. Everything. Including Von.