3. Sylvester Williams
Contract Status: UFA in 2017
The Denver Broncos had the option to exercise Sylvester Williams’ fifth-year option in 2017, which would have paid Williams $6.757 million, but John Elway passed. At the price, on average, Williams would have been the 11th highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
Is he worth that kind of money? Apparently, that’s what Elway’s trying to figure out.
It’s a gamble, though. If Williams ends up having a breakout season, he could get paid on the open market. Remember, Malik Jackson‘s breakout season earned him $14.25 million a year.
Now, they play different positions, and Williams is more likely to come in around $7 to $10 million, but that’s still more than he would have made under the fifth-year option.
