Restructure Veteran contracts, or move on from them
While A.J. Bouye is the poster child for veterans needing restructured contracts, the Denver Broncos have many veteran players underperforming, or who should be willing to take a pay cut.
A.J. Bouye was acquired for a 4th round pick in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was expected to help bolster the starting group of cornerbacks. While Bouye’s play was above average in the secondary, he struggled to stay healthy throughout the season and was one of many players caught using performance-enhancing drugs at the end of the season.
After the recent news of A.J. Bouye, the Broncos will likely be making similar moves around the roster. In fact, after this post was submitted, the Broncos released Bouye, saving over $13 million.
The NFL Draft has many options to replace Bouye in the 1st round. Some notable names are Caleb Farley, Patrick Surtain II, and Jaycee Horn. All three players would help add depth to a secondary without Bouye.
Other veterans who could be subject to a restructure or roster cut are Jurrell Casey and Kareem Jackson. Casey has the proven production but missed all of 2020 with a biceps injury. If he is willing to restructure, Jurrell Casey could return on an incentive-laden contract to help him maximize his production while still getting paid.
Kareem Jackson has played very well for the Broncos but will be entering the 2021 season at nearly 33 years old. Jackson should consider a restructure to add another year onto his contract in exchange for a slight pay cut.
Restructuring veteran contracts will not be easy and may upset some veterans. However, if the Denver Broncos can restructure their expensive veteran players, they will have more cap room to retain their young stars and push for a playoff berth in 2021.