Denver Broncos: Todd Davis free agent signing grade
The Denver Broncos are reportedly bringing back linebacker Todd Davis on a three-year contract worth $15 million. We grade the move…
The Denver Broncos have reportedly re-signed one of their own, bringing back linebacker Todd Davis on a three-year contract worth $15 million in total money and $6 million in guarantees.
Not bad for a 25-year old with two good years of starting experience following the team’s loss of Danny Trevathan in the 2016 offseason.
Davis’ extension was reported immediately after the start of the new league year at 2:00 mountain time.
Todd Davis' three-year, $15M contract includes $6M in guarantees.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) March 14, 2018
Signing Grade: B+
The Broncos were able to bring back one of their own key defensive starters at a very reasonable price here. Davis is a two-down run stuffer, and was paid accordingly.
The market right now for off-ball linebackers is around $8-9 million per season, and guys like Avery Williamson and Anthony Hitchens cashed in during the legal negotiating period.
Obviously, Davis’ market wasn’t as crazy as those guys, and the Broncos seem to have gotten a huge bargain here.
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At $6 million in guaranteed money, there’s no question the Broncos will have an easy out in this contract if there’s an upgrade available at some point in time.
Another reason to like this move? The Broncos are bringing back a player their scouting department had identified as a fit all the way back in 2014 when they poached him off of the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad after Nate Irving suffered a season-ending injury.
Irving was a third round pick of the team’s back in the 2011 NFL Draft, and hadn’t lived up to his draft potential.
That’s where Davis came in as a reserve behind a couple of stud linebackers the Broncos had in Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall, and after the 2015 season, the Broncos had enough faith in Davis to make him a full-time starter.
Davis is not known for his coverage abilities, to be certain, but is a very good run player and the Broncos got him at a bargain price given the inside linebacker market.