KUSA – The Broncos are not expected to exercise the $9.232 million option for outside linebacker Shane Ray in 2019, a team personnel source told 9NEWS.
Ray’s injury-riddled, one-sack season in 2017 and the Broncos’ first-round selection of Bradley Chubb in 2018 appears to be conspiring against keeping Ray under team’s control in 2019.
Ray is scheduled to make $1.68 million this season in what may be the final year of his rookie contract.
If the Broncos don’t exercise the fifth-year option on Ray by the 2 p.m. Thursday deadline, it could be the best thing for him as it would give him the leverage of unrestricted free agency after this season. If Ray has a big year in 2018, he could command a multiyear contract for well more than $9.232 million a year.
First-round draft picks in 2015 are subject to a fifth-year team option that must be exercised before the player’s fourth season. So far, more than half of the 32 first-round draft picks have reportedly been told their fifth-year option will be exercised.
Although the $9.232 million option would be guaranteed only against injury, the Broncos may not want to take that risk after using their No. 5 overall draft pick on Chubb, who plays Ray’s position, and because Ray is coming off a wrist injury.
Ray was the No. 23 overall selection in 2015. He was the Broncos’ first pick even though the team already had DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller starting in front of him. Ray had 4.0 sacks in his rookie season of 2015 and 8.0 in 2016 while serving as Ware’s back up.
After Ware retired prior to the 2017 season, Ray was set to have a breakout year as a starter, but he got a bum break on the first day of training camp when he suffered a torn left wrist ligament that required surgery.
Ray missed the first six games of last season, then had trouble getting to the quarterback while playing with a cast on his left hand. He was placed back on injured reserve for the final two games after the Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention.
All in all, the Broncos were expecting more than 13.0 sacks through three seasons from their first-round draft pick.
To date, the Broncos have a mixed record in picking up the fifth-year options on their first-round draft selections. They exercised the option on Von Miller (first round pick in 2011) and Bradley Roby (2014) but declined it on Sylvester Williams (2013). The team did not have a first-round selection in 2012.
At about this time next year, the Broncos will have to make a decision on whether to pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Paxton Lynch, their first-round draft pick in 2016.
