Denver Broncos: Rap Sheet gives positive Von Miller update

The 2021 NFL offseason is rapidly approaching and new Denver Broncos general manager George Paton has already been making some tough decisions.

Paton, the rest of the front office, and the coaching staff decided it would be best for the Denver Broncos to move on from 2020 trade acquisitions AJ Bouye and Jurrell Casey, both players that were projected to be impact starters last season.

With both Bouye and Casey gone, the Denver Broncos have plenty of cap space looking ahead. Depending on where the 2021 salary cap ultimately lands, the Broncos could have anywhere between $43 million and $51 million if nothing happens between now and the start of free agency.

But we all know that’s not going to happen.

Before the start of the new league year (March 17), the Denver Broncos have to decide what they are going to do with players like Justin Simmons, Shelby Harris, a number of key restricted free agents, and perhaps most notably Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller.

Miller, arguably the best draft pick in the history of the Denver Broncos’ franchise as well as arguably the best defensive player to ever don the orange and blue, has a club option for about $18 million in 2021. It’s been reported that the Broncos are not likely to pick up that option (though they have not made a final decision either way).

According to Ian Rapoport (NFL insider for NFL Network) that is not exactly a bad thing for the Denver Broncos. Rapoport appeared on Pat McAfee’s show and gave some very positive new developments regarding the Broncos’ star pass rusher.

Here is Rap Sheet’s full quote so we can get it in writing.

"If he’s free, he’s gonna have a very good market. I will say at this point, I doubt that he’s free. Because they’ve got the team option coming up…I don’t think they’re going to pick up the option because I think there’s a good chance — I think there’s a real chance the two sides get together and make it make sense. He wants to finish his career in Denver, he’s awesome, missed last year with an injury, they have cap space…It’s hard to get better by letting one of your best players walk so, I would imagine there would be some sort of compromise to smooth out his cap hit and make it make sense.Ian Rapoport on The Pat McAfee Show"

There are so many things in there to love if you’re a Denver Broncos fan.

First of all, the team not picking up Miller’s option does not indicate that the Broncos are moving on from Miller completely. While not picking up his option would certainly mean there is a chance Miller hits the open market, Rapoport’s point about not letting one of your best players walk is something to pay attention to.

Does George Paton want to come into Denver and let one of his first moves as GM be to let one of the best players in franchise history go?

That kind of mess can stay in Houston with the Texans.

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Von Miller is coming off of injury, and there are some off-field things that need to be figured out and addressed, but if Miller is amenable to re-doing his contract to remain in Denver not only for 2021 but for the rest of his career, that is something the Broncos should have interest in as well.