ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – The Denver Broncos launched cornerback AJ Bouye.
The move is the first of several that will have to be made in the cornerback, while the Broncos reconstructs its depth chart in position after a season in which four cornerbacks, including Bryce Callahan, ended the year as an injured reserve. Bouye also lost the last four games of 2020 due to a six-game suspension for violations of the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.
The 29-year-old will still be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season.
The move will free up $ 11.7 million against the Broncos’ salary cap and the team will now have just under $ 31 million in salary cap space when they start working on their off-season plan.
George Paton, who was hired as the Broncos’ new general manager last month, had promised that the “tough decisions” about the future of some players would begin after he met with team scouts and professional staff teams, as well as with the coaches. the decisions to be made are years of choice in the contracts for linebacker Von Miller and safety Kareem Jackson, as well as the near future of quarterback Drew Lock in the team’s attack.
The Broncos sent a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars last March in exchange for Bouye. At the time, the Broncos expected Bouye and Callahan to give them a set of veteran cornerbacks to help defend in the Kansas City Chiefs chase at AFC West.
However, Bouye’s game was irregular, as he lost four games with a shoulder injury, as well as another game in the concussion protocol before losing the last four games due to suspension.
He finished with 21 tackles and no interceptions in seven games.
At the time of the suspension, coach Vic Fangio said: “I was disappointed by him. The players have to make very, very good judgments with the people they trust for their careers and finances. Obviously, something went wrong with this person he dealt with. with and trustworthy. It’s a disappointing situation for everyone. ”
Bouye, an eight-year veteran, has 14 interceptions, 72 defended passes and 338 tackles in his career.