Month: March 2018

Case Keenum Contract Details

UPDATE: March 16 – It took a while, but Mike Klis finally comes through with the numbers:

Keenum’s contract table is as follows, beyond the fold:

Year Base Salary Prorated Bonus Roster Bonus Cap Number Dead Money & Cap Savings
2018 $8,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,000 $15,000,000 $25,000,000 ($10,000,000)
2019 $18,000,000 $3,000,000 $0 $21,000,000 $10,000,000 $11,000,000

Here are my early takeaways from this structure:

  • Keenum’s 2018 cap number of $15 million is quite reasonable, but I worry a bit about the 2019 number of $21 million, because 2019 is a year I foresee in which the Broncos are going to be strapped for cap space. This is increasingly true due to the restructure of Von Miller that sent an extra $4 million of cap dollars to 2019. I am guessing that the Broncos are planning that if Keenum plays very well in 2018, they will extend him with the added goal of reducing his 2019 cap number at the same time. If Keenum does not play well or is outplayed by a young quarterback, they can instead cut him.
  • And on the topic of cutting in 2019, Klis suggests that “this is [an] ironclad 2-year deal”. But I’m not seeing it in this structure. $11 million is still a significant chunk of cap savings to be had even if the Broncos have to carry a $10 million dead money figure. If Keenum truly is a one year wonder, the contract is not as much of a disaster to escape from as, say, what the Texans offered Brock Osweiler.
  • Another option to part ways with Keenum in 2019 is via a trade. The Broncos would be relieved of the salary guarantees on Keenum’s 2019 year in such a move. This scenario could play out if Keenum plays OK or very little and a young quarterback plays much better.
  • As such, this contract does not preclude the Broncos from drafting a rookie quarterback. I realize this has been a point of contention on this site in recent weeks, and I will not offer a new opinion on this divisive subject yet. All I want to do is note its possibility.

Broncos To Trade Trevor Siemian To The Vikings

The Broncos will be relieved of Siemian’s $1.907M base salary that was raised due to qualifying for the Proven Performance escalator. They will carry a trivial amount of dead money of $13,196 from his rookie signing bonus.

Adam Schefter has early word of compensation:

Mike Klis confirms what Schefter (on air at ESPN) speculated would be the precise draft picks:

The Broncos’ 7th round choice is #225 overall.

Update after Signing of Case Keenum

After the Keenum signing, I thought I’d try to give a quick overview of where I thought we stand. I had a long day at work so this will be shorter than I had hopped, and sorry for any errors or typos.

Cap Space:

After the Case Keenum Signing today, our effective cap space sits at 6.7 million for 2018, and 22 million for 2019.

2018 Cap space

Starting per OTC 29.9 million
Case Keenum (Net) -17.5 million
2018 Draft Class (Net) -5.7 million
Remaining 2018 Cap Space 6.7 million

2019 Cap Space

Starting Cap Space 59 million
Case Keenum -18 million
2018 Draft Class (gross) -14 million
Getting roster to 51 -5 million
Remaining 2019 cap space 22 million

Continue reading Update after Signing of Case Keenum

The Broncos Need To Look For A Defensive Lineman, Starting Now

The news that Adam Gotsis was arrested related to rape is terrible. No way around it. It’s important to set some factors straight from the onset:

  • Gotsis will have his time under the court of law, and all the protections that are insured under the Constitution.
  • Gotsis is also having his time under the court of public opinion. Comment however you want in that regard, or say nothing if you’re not comfortable yet with commenting.
  • Gotsis may also have his time under the court of the commissioner’s office, with all the trappings that that involves.

The combination of those three factors, however, casts doubt on Gotsis’s reliability to play football for the Broncos, in 2018 and beyond. In a press release, the Broncos say that “take an accusation of this nature very seriously”. If they are, well, serious in that regard, they’ll be doing their due diligence in making sure they account for an absence of Gotsis on their roster, of whatever length. That would also be a significant absence to make up. Gotsis logged more snaps than any other defensive lineman on the Broncos in 2017, at 56.3%.

The timing of the news is fortuitous in only one regard: it broke right before free agency started. The Broncos now have this knowledge before that fast and furious action will officially begin in less than two days, and can adjust those plans accordingly without too much disruption.

The Broncos need not panic at the position. It’s unlikely they could offer too much to free agents with Derek Wolfe already at a high level salary, and the pursuit for a veteran quarterback very much on. Shelby Harris and Zach Kerr also offer reasonable depth at the position. DeMarcus Walker could also emerge as a force in Year 2, just like Gotsis did. The draft may end up being the better place to look after proper research is done on the free agent market.

But the Broncos must immediately take that look. For what it’s worth it, it appears that they are in that market to some extent, though it is unclear as of now whether or not it is related to Gotsis.