According to Mike Klis of 9News, the Broncos will choose Von Miller’s team option for the 2021 season.
The Broncos will exercise the $ 7 million guarantee option over Von Miller’s $ 18 million salary for 2021, by source. Von stays. # 9 sports
– Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 16, 2021
Miller was set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NFL career if the Broncos didn’t choose the option. Klis reported that the Broncos approached Miller about a cut in pay and that he disagreed with that. This is probably why the decision to choose your option took so long.
In the end, Paton’s decision came down to this: he believes Miller is still a very good player. While $ 18 million in cash and a $ 22.225 million limit may have seemed steep a few days ago, it didn’t look like it after eight pass rushers – none of whom are as talented as Miller – agreed to contracts that ranged from $ 13 million per year up to $ 18 million per Shaq Barrett. The average contract for these eight pass rushers was $ 15.06 million per year.
In the end, the new general manager of the Broncos decided that Miller was too difficult to replace. Retaining Von means that the Broncos can still try to negotiate with the 31-year-old to reduce his maximum limit to 2021 or extend it into a long-term contract.
By NFL Source: Broncos buying the $ 7 million option on the SB 50 MVP Von Miller. He is still unsure of what his salary will be in 2021, as they try to rework, or perhaps extend Von, but George Paton is not ready to leave the future Hall of Fame. #BroncosCountry @KOAColorado
– Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) March 16, 2021
Counting the playoffs, Miller scored 112.5 sacks in his NFL career. He is also the MVP of the Super Bowl 50. A blockade to the Hall of Fame, there has been some debate about Miller’s future since an abnormal injury ended his 2020 season before the Broncos started against the Tennessee Titans.
In recent years, some corners of the Broncos Country have been dissatisfied with Miller’s production. He has had 46 sacks since 2015, but ended up with just eight in his last healthy season. Looking beyond the traditional cash score, it is noteworthy that Miller has 237 individual pass pressures over the same period of time. Miller’s 63 individual pressures in 2019 were more than double that of any other member of the Broncos’ list. Shelby Harris finished second in the team with 24.
By Sports Info Solutions’ graphics, Miller has generated pressure on more than 14.1% of his photos in three of his last four healthy seasons. The only exception came in 2018, which prompted John Elway to summon Bradley Chubb in the 2019 NFL draft.
Personally, I thought Miller’s decision was a no-brainer for months. While there is certainly a risk that Miller would not return from his injury as the same elite player he was, he looked like the best potential edge rusher on the market throughout the year. There is a reason why teams like the Cleveland Browns did not pursue an advantage yesterday. They were waiting to find out if Von Miller would be available.
Keeping Miller to 2021 is a calculated risk, but it’s also a great decision by George Paton
.