Category: Contracts

Broncos Redo Donald Stephenson’s Contract

Remember that the term “restructure” is often used too broadly by the media. It should specifically refer to the technique of converting base salary to a signing bonus for the purposes of gaining cap space in the current year. While possible with Stephenson, I highly doubt that was the case here.  I would instead be thinking Stephenson either took a pay cut or agreed to some other alteration to make the contract friendlier for Denver.

UPDATE – 9:30 AM MT: Stephenson and the Broncos have agreed to split the difference between his pending $4 million salary guarantee:

If Stephenson does not make the final 53, the dead money will depend on how Stephenson will receive the $2 million:

  • If the $2 million is still part of his salary, the Broncos would incur $3 million of dead money in 2017, and $1 million in 2018.
  • If the $2 million was given as a signing bonus, the Broncos would incur $2 million in dead money in both 2017 and 2018.

Broncos Sign Domata Peko & Zach Kerr

As Klis subsequently tweeted, “Broncos now have two Pekos on D-line: Domata and cousin Kyle.”  As a UFA, Peko will count against the Broncos as a compensatory free agent signed.  Kerr, on the other hand, was an RFA that was not tendered by the Colts, and thus will not count in the compensatory formula.

Klis also has some contract details for Peko:

Ronald Leary Contract Details

Beyond the fold is the table of how Leary’s contract table should look via reports from Wilson and Pelissero: Continue reading Ronald Leary Contract Details

2017 Compensatory Picks Announced

The Broncos will get picks in the 3rd (#101), 5th (#177), and two in the 7th (#252 and #253).

Press release is here.

In sum, two adverse changes were made to my Broncos’ projection that I both anticipated might happen.  Danny Trevathan was valued as a 5th rounder, of which I thought was a very close call, and isn’t a huge deal.  But the real blow against the Broncos was that the compensatory formula decided to count the entirety of Russell Okung’s contract (as well as Kelvin Beachum’s, structured the same way).  That caused Okung to be easily valued as a 3rd rounder, and thus canceled out their highest 3rd round CFA lost, and that was Brock Osweiler.  In turn, it freed up a 7th round pick for Vernon Davis.  The Broncos’ other 7th rounder, for Ryan Harris, will be the Mr. Irrelevant pick once again for Denver.  This year, I personally hope they won’t trade it.

Broncos Decline Russell Okung’s Option: A Postmortem

One of the top pending questions surrounding the Broncos before the 2017 league year begins was whether a 4-year option on Russell Okung’s contract would be exercised.  Today, the reports are that the answer is no.  Reactions were swift now that the answer is reasonably known, but I think it’s prudent to take a breath and look at the facts surrounding why the Broncos made this decision.  Then, we can take a look at what the future may hold at the left tackle position. Continue reading Broncos Decline Russell Okung’s Option: A Postmortem

Observing 2017’s Left Tackle Market

There was a fair amount of news yesterday regarding the status of multiple left tackles as the 2016 league year wraps down.  Cameron Wolfe added to the conversation by expressing proper skepticism on Russell Okung’s four year option being picked up. With the possibility that the Broncos will be looking for a new left tackle for 2017, I thought it would be instructive to take a look at where all 32 teams stand at the position so that it’s easier to reference what possibilities the Broncos have in changing up the position. Continue reading Observing 2017’s Left Tackle Market

Tale Of The Tape: John Elway vs. Ryan Grigson

As most Broncos fans know well, a grave injustice was done when Ryan Grigson edged out John Elway for Executive of the Year in 2012.  While this subject will always contain a little bit of soreness, history has vindicated this injustice, as can be illustrated in these respective links for Grigson and Elway.

Now that the Grigson era has ended in Indianapolis, I feel that we should close the chapter on this by taking a detailed look at the transactions that Elway and Grigson each executed during their overlapping reins as GMs.  This means that I’m not giving Elway credit for 2011, and his stellar acquisitions such as Von Miller, Julius Thomas, and Chris Harris.  But as you’ll see, he doesn’t even need that year.

This list represents the opinion that I’m expressing in this article.  The grades that I’ve given each transaction are subjective, but I feel they are also fair. Continue reading Tale Of The Tape: John Elway vs. Ryan Grigson