What will the Denver Broncos future look like with Watson at QB?
The Denver Broncos have the ammunition to make a blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson, and have the salary cap flexibility to make him a Bronco for the 2021 season. What about beyond the 2021 season?
Here’s where things get tricky.
Deshaun Watson’s 2022 cap hit sits at $40.4 million dollars, followed by hits of $42.4, $37.4, and $32.4 in the following years, per Overthecap. Watson is a hands-down top 10 quarterback in the league, but George Paton and his staff will have to do some work to the Broncos’ roster if they acquire Watson.
Denver’s list of 2022 Free Agents holds some notable names but has less overall talent than the 2021 Free Agent list. The biggest name scheduled for Free Agency in 2022 is Courtland Sutton, who will likely be in line for a big time extension.
However, Sutton may be willing to work with the Broncos as a show of gratitude for bringing in Watson. Sutton will still likely command anywhere from $14-16 million per year, putting him in line for potentially top-10 receiver money.
After Sutton, the list of big-name free agents tapers off significantly. The Broncos will likely restructure Von Miller‘s contract this offseason, and Bradley Chubb will almost certainly receive the 5th-year option, covering his contract for the 2022 season.
While Watson’s contract is immense, the Denver Broncos have a strong front office assembled to work with Watson’s salary. Denver still has a window to compete before its star players are in line for extensions, and Watson will help the team exploit that window.