According to multiple reports, the Denver Broncos have made a substantial offer of over $10 million annually to Malik Jackson. Will it be enough to retain him?
Malik Jackson was a key part in the Super Bowl run of one of the most dominant defenses the NFL has ever seen. Now he has a choice: chase after the money, or play for the team that drafted you and just won a Super Bowl for a little less.
That’s really what we’re dealing with here.
According to a report today from Eric Goodman, the Broncos have offered Malik Jackson a contract of roughly 5 years, $50 million, while he’s seeking 5 years, $75 million.
$25 million is a pretty wide gap between negotiating parties, and there’s no way the Broncos are going to pay that kind of cash for a defensive end when they just paid Derek Wolfe and they’ve yet to pay Von Miller among other free agents.
It’s just not financially possible in this league.
That being said, Malik Jackson has a pretty black and white choice in front of him. Here are the two options:
- Play for the Broncos at over $10 million annually
- Play for a team that sucks for $13 or 14 million annually
Money talks, but is it that loud?
If Malik Jackson has to go and make his money, then by all means…It’s not like the Broncos are insulting him with a $10 million annual salary offer. They also aren’t going to insult Derek Wolfe, who also played out of his mind this past season and was handsomely rewarded with a contract that pays him just under $10 million per season.
NFL Source close to #Broncos Malik negotiations:
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) February 23, 2016
Broncos have come up from 3 years, $24M to 5 years, $50Mish
Jackson wants 5 years, $75M
He could have gotten a lot more on the open market, but winning matters to him.
I’m not saying winning doesn’t matter to Jackson — look at how well he played this postseason — but is he fine getting his ring and moving on to a new contract?
Of course, as Broncos fans, we’re biased in the matter. Nobody around the league, not even his own teammates would blame Jackson for getting the biggest contract he could while he still can. After all, as Jackson puts it, he’s got to ‘feed his family’… But at what point does the winning culture and opportunity for continuity or dare I say a dynasty outweigh the opportunity to play for 35,000 roaring Jaguars fans and a game that’s blacked out?
Just remember, one of your home games will always be played in London.
I’m not trying to diss other NFL franchises, but look around you. People always say it’s ‘not common’ for players to give hometown discounts. I beg to differ. Look at the Broncos’ roster and tell me there aren’t underpaid players all over it. Heck, two of the biggest deals just recently signed (Chris Harris Jr., Derek Wolfe) would be considered ‘discounts’ when you compare the contracts to some of the others around the league.
Malik Jackson is a really good player. In fact, I think he’s a great player.
He should stay in Denver, but he might not. If I’m honest with myself, my heart is telling me he probably won’t.
Mike Klis put it at a 49 percent chance, and that almost feels like a 0 percent chance. Can the Broncos afford it? Yes. Does it make sense for both parties to get a reasonable deal done? Yes.
Can Malik Jackson win in Denver? Yes. Can he feed his family in Denver? Yes.
I fail to see a way where this couldn’t work out, and yet, it happens all the time in the NFL. At the price he’s asking for, there’s no way Malik Jackson will be back in Denver. Unless he decides to play for a little less pay, then I guess he’ll join Julius Thomas and Zane Beadles or something of the like.
And I hope someday they will all be able to say it was worth it.
Thomas and Beadles already missed out on a ring. How about you, Malik?