ENGLEWOOD, Colo — As the Broncos begin rearranging the pieces of their roster puzzle this offseason, money will be a factor.
There are decisions on whether to sign their own free agents, and for how much. This category includes kicker Wil Lutz, center Lloyd Cushenberry III, inside linebacker Josey Jewell, safety P.J. Locke, tight end Adam Trautman and nose tackle Mike Purcell.
From this group, Lutz has to be the priority. The Broncos have players behind all their other free-agent players. There is no backup kicker.
There are also decisions on whether to sign free agents who are currently on other teams, and for how much. Sam Darnold, for instance, will be less expensive than Baker Mayfield.
And there are decisions on whether to exercise current and future guarantees with three of the Broncos more impactful offensive players: Starting quarterback Russell Wilson, right tackle Mike McGlinchey and receiver Courtland Sutton.
Here's a look at each of those three contract situations:
Russell Wilson, quarterback
Key contract date: March 17
Contract situation: On March 17, the Broncos must pay Wilson a $22 million option bonus for the 2024 season. No questions asked. That option payout is fully guaranteed as is the $17 million salary Wilson is to be paid out over the 2024 regular season. The $22 million option bonus also is to be paid out in equal paycheck installments during the regular season. Because it's an option bonus, the $22 million for cap purposes would be prorated over the final five years of Wilson's contract.
A much bigger issue is Wilson's $37 million salary in 2025. That becomes guaranteed on March 17, also. It's that $37 million guarantee for next year that has caused so much angst. Sean Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of last season ostensibly for performance reasons. Wilson indicated his benching was for the reason of next year's $37 million guarantee.
The presumption is the Broncos will move on from Wilson, either via trade or release, before that $37 million guarantee for 2025 kicks in on March 17. But the man primarily making that decision, head coach Sean Payton, said last week he has not yet made this decision.
Mike McGlinchey, right tackle
Key contract date: March 18
Contract situation: McGlinchey's $17.5 million salary for 2025 becomes fully guaranteed on March 18. This is expected to happen. McGlinchey didn't have the best pass-protection season but it wasn't easy blocking the right side with Wilson tending to scramble right.
McGlinchey made $20 million last season and is guaranteed to make $15 million in 2024. The Broncos may eat Wilson's 2024 pay out but they can't be eating two enormous salaries. However, because the Broncos would be facing serious salary cap consequences if they eat Wilson's pay out -- their cap is already an estimated $26 million in the red for 2024 -- McGlinchey would be a candidate to have his salary converted to a bonus for cap-saving reasons.
Courtland Sutton, receiver
Key contract date: March 18
Contract situation: On this date, Sutton will have $2 million of his $13 million salary fully guaranteed.
This is going to happen for a couple reasons. One, Sutton is the Broncos' top pass catcher and one of the league's most productive red-zone receivers. He was tied for fourth in the league with 10 touchdown passes with 8 coming from the red-zone area.
Two, even in the unlikely event the Broncos receive a trade offer they can't refuse for Sutton, the $2 million isn't going to hang up any deal.
Like McGlinchey, Sutton is a candidate to have his salary converted to bonus for cap-saving purposes.
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