The Denver Broncos are not going to be able to keep everybody this offseason, but it sure would help if a couple of them were willing to take a hometown discount.
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, Ryan Clady, who’s actually under contract for next season, would be willing to do just that.
#Broncos Ryan Clady told me after Super Bowl he's open to reworking contract to stay. His agent expected to meet w team on Friday.
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) February 25, 2016
Clady is technically under contract for the next two years, but the Broncos could cut bait and save nearly $9 million in cap space this offseason; that extra spending money could make a big difference.
But whether Clady is cut or restructures his contract, there’s just about a zero percent chance that he makes the $10.1 million he’s schedule to make against the cap in 2016; he’s simply no longer worth seventh-highest-paid-tackle money.
Still, if Denver and Clady can come to terms on a deal that keeps him in the blue and orange another year, why not do it? Maybe he’s not a top-10 tackle — he’s probably not a top-15 or 20, either — but he’s most definitely a better option than Michael Schofield or Ryan Harris. Throw Ty Saimbraillo back into the mix and suddenly the Broncos offensive line is looking a lot more formidable.
And by taking a pay cut, Clady would be following a long line of Broncos who have sacrificed money to stay in (or come to) Denver: Peyton Manning, Derek Wolfe, Evan Mathis and Chris Harris Jr, just to name a few.
Heck, Mile High Sports Radio’s own Eric Goodman reported that Malik Jackson could be willing to take up to $5 million less per year to stay in Denver. Given that he’s one of the hottest commodities on the open market, that means a lot.
If only someone could urge Danny Trevathan to do the same.
#Broncos Elway said Trevathan will test the market. Team focusing on Von, Malik and Brock. Would still like Trevathan back.
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) February 25, 2016
And the Broncos should want Trevathan back. He’s a great football player. Unfortunately, being fourth on the to-do list could be enough to push the Broncos’ leading tackler out the door; another franchise is sure to make him a priority this free-agency season.