Multiple options await Broncos regarding Von Miller’s future
Feb 22, 2021, 7:17 PM | Updated: 7:32 pm
One way or another, Broncos Country should know within the next month how Von Miller fits into Denver’s future plans.
The Broncos hold a club option for the final year of Miller’s contract in 2021, which if exercised before the new league year on March 17 would guarantee the All-Pro pass rusher $7 million of his $18 million salary for next season.
Joining “Orlando & Sandy” on Monday, 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis highlighted a number of scenarios that could determine how long, or if, Miller remains in the Mile High City.
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Option 1 – Restructure Miller’s deal
The Broncos could exercise its club option on Miller before the March 17 deadline and work out a restructured deal friendlier to the salary cap.
For instance, Denver could take Miller’s $18 million salary in 2021 and turn it into $30 million over three seasons at a $10 million per year clip.
“That’s what I think George Paton and the Broncos will try to do. Now, Von has to accept that,” Klis said.
Now, whether Miller will accept that option may be another story, as he bristled at the notion of a possible pay cut in an interview with “Stokley & Zach” in October.
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Option 2 – Don’t mess with things
Denver could opt to exercise Miller’s $7 million guarantee and continue on to the final year of his contract in 2021 without any adjustment.
Klis said the Broncos could take the approach of “not haggling” with Miller and “not messing with his mindset.”
Paton and the Broncos brass would need to “figure out other way to fit everything into a reduced salary cap this year,” Klis said, but perhaps the greatest defensive player in team history would be able to finish out his deal in Denver.
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Option 3 – Trade Miller
In this scenario, Denver would exercise the $7 million option and attempt to trade the three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler.
However, at age 32 and with little production the past two seasons, Klis said he doesn’t think Miller would be “very tradable at his current contract”
“I think Von would have a big market if he was a free agent but not a big trade market,” Klis said. “… Teams wouldn’t want to give up a draft pick plus pay him.”
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Option 4 – Release Miller
The fourth scenario the Broncos could face would lead to the release of one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Denver could approach Miller about a restructure, and if he declines, the club could release him, making him a free agent.
Klis said he believes that scenario is “a legitimate possibility,” putting 50-50 odds on it or Option 1 as the two paths most likely to be taken.
