Broncos DT Sylvester Williams’ Player Option Approaching
By Tylor Walden
The Denver Broncos will have a decision to make soon in regards to exercising defensive tackle Sylvester Williams’ fifth year option once the 2016 NFL Draft concludes.
Lost in all the transition of the frenzy that is free agency, there is a tidbit of information that could impact the team once the 2016 NFL Draft concludes for the Denver Broncos.
Sylvester Williams, the first round draft pick for the Broncos back in the 2013 NFL Draft, has his fifth year option remaining on the table, and the team has to make a decision soon if they would like to exercise that option.
Just talking to my main man @tyflyguy15 and realized that I forgot the #Broncos have the 5th year option on Sly Williams for 2017.
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) March 31, 2016
The Broncos will have until May 1st, the day after the NFL Draft this offseason, to exercise that fifth year option. Should the Broncos exercise that option, Sylvester Williams would make just a little over six million dollars during that fifth year.
However, if Elway decides not to exercise that option, Sylvester Williams would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2016 season.
The Broncos are no stranger to exercising fifth year options. They did this with Von Miller back in 2014. And it allowed them to keep the defense in tact that help the team win Super Bowl 50 this year.
The biggest thing to keep an eye on if they plan to exercise that option is to keep an eye on the cap space that the Broncos will have next year.
As of right now, the biggest names that would be unrestricted free agents are Emmanuel Sanders, Demarcus Ware, Darian Stewart, and Brandon Marshall.
However, at six million for that year, it would be a bargain for the Broncos. I would exercise it, especially if the team plans to keep as much of this defensive unit as they can. Sly is solid in the running game and has shown improvement during this season.
Analyzing the entire situation, exercising that option would give Elway one less free agent to worry about when the 2016 season ends. Especially since Sanders, Stewart, and Marshall will be some of the key players set to become free agents.
This should be an interesting subject to keep an eye on as we get closer to the NFL Draft. Will Sylvester Williams become a free agent at the end of the 2016 or 2017 season? We will know in a matter of days.