How Demaryius Thomas’ Five-Year Commitment Affects Other Broncos
By Dan Armelli
Von Miller
Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) dances following his sack against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Broncos fans know why Von is on this list. He is a free agent next year and he’s someone that John Elway would like to keep. He even said so himself.
Elway: "D.T. was the first step. We'll have a plan for Von for next year, as well as other players."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 15, 2015
When a GM is as forthright about a player a year before his contract is up, especially one as good in free agency as Elway has been, it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
The specifics of DT’s deal leads me to believe the Broncos, as Elway said, set up a plan to re-sign Von Miller. Thomas’s new deal averages $14 a year, but the yearly payout is what makes re-signing Miller a little bit easier.
Mike Klis of 9News broke down DT’s new contract. His yearly salaries look like this: $22 million in 2015, $13 million in 2016, $8.5 million in 2017, $12.5 million in 2018, and $14 (non-guaranteed) million in 2019.
Thomas is getting most of his money this year, meaning he’ll make less than his average in the following three years. The Broncos will be getting him at a discount in 2017 and this is where I’m guessing Von will be able to cash in on the most.
Frontloading this contract is super smart for both sides. For one, DT gets a bulk of his money early. For the Broncos, their roster is basically set for this year, so the money allocated to DT this year was almost irrelevant. It’s the following years that they will need the cap space the most.
With DT not making much in years two to four, and Chris Harris Jr. (who the Broncos also get on a discount in 2017) signing a steal of an extension for the Broncos in the middle of last season, Denver is poised to retained arguably their three best players, all 27 and under, for the foreseeable future.
And if you’re wondering what kind of dough Miller will get, Justin Houston, who is near the same level as Miller, just signed a six-year, $101 million deal with Kansas City. There are reasons why Von should both get more (pure talent, better career production) and less (major injury, off the field trouble) than that, so the net average leans toward him getting a very similar deal.