Denver Broncos: Shaquil Barrett given second round RFA tender

The Denver Broncos have given restricted free agent outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett a second round RFA tender…

The Denver Broncos have reportedly placed a second round restricted free agent tender on outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, a key player on their defense.

Barrett was an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in 2014, and has been one of the best Broncos defensive players since he started to get action in the rotation in 2015.

In 48 career games, Barrett has tallied 11 sacks. More than just notching sacks, though, Barrett has proven himself a top flight edge defender.

In addition to getting pressures and hits on the quarterback, Barrett is one of the Broncos’ best run defending edge players and losing him would be a pretty significant loss.

Hence, the second round price tag.

With Shane Ray’s fifth-year rookie option coming next offseason, it would shock me if the Broncos did not entertain offers for one player or the other. They are not going to be able to justify re-signing both, unless some team makes Barrett a team-friendly offer and the Broncos feel they can match it right away.

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Denver doesn’t have a ton of cap commitments past this season, and in 2020, their cap space is a ridiculous amount over $100 million.

That is an indicator that this team has financial commitments through the next couple of seasons, but they need to soon start deciding who they are going to build the team around beyond 2019.

Barrett could be one of those players, or the Broncos could cash in on his high value and deal him to another team for a nice haul.

That would upset a lot of Broncos fans, but it’s again the reality of the business. Most fans would probably rather see Barrett stick around, and at the price of roughly $2.91 million, it’s likely we’ll see him back unless some team blows the Broncos away with an offer.

Wide receiver Bennie Fowler III was not tendered by the Broncos and is free to sign with any team.