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Denver Broncos lose key players on free agency eve

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: The Denver Broncos offenses huddles as center Matt Paradis #61 looks on and linebacker Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs waits for the play in the second quarter during a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: The Denver Broncos offenses huddles as center Matt Paradis #61 looks on and linebacker Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs waits for the play in the second quarter during a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 18: Running back Royce Freeman #37 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a second quarter touchdown with center Matt Paradis #61 during an NFL preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 18: Running back Royce Freeman #37 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a second quarter touchdown with center Matt Paradis #61 during an NFL preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Matt Paradis leaves for the Panthers

This one is going to be hard to swallow.

The Carolina Panthers came out of nowhere to sign Paradis to a three-year contract worth as much as the Broncos offered in a long-term deal last offseason.

It was supposed to be a two-team race between the Jets and Broncos for Paradis. This move would have been a lot easier to digest had Paradis signed with the Jets for way more money than the Broncos could realistically afford to pay him.

Instead, it was reported that the Broncos made Paradis an offer for a one-year contract and he took the offer he was given by Carolina, which included about half of the money guaranteed.

In all honesty, this was far less than I imagined Paradis would get, and if the Panthers want, they could cut him next offseason for about $2 million in dead money.

This is not a great deal for Paradis, but a great one for the Panthers.

I’m sad to see Paradis go, but the Broncos didn’t need to go overpaying for his services with his hip surgeries in 2017 and broken fibula in 2018. He’s 29 going on 30, and yes he’s one of the best centers in the league, but the going rate for top centers right now is absurdly high.

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