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Home , Gus Frerotte, NFL Scouting Combine, Paxton Lynch

The are sitting on a goldmine heading into draft By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post Feb. 27, 2018

Depending on ’s plan and haul in free agency, he could be sitting on a goldmine that might be worth cashing in. The Broncos have 10 total picks in the upcoming NFL draft, including the No. 5 overall section.

Should the Broncos land their starter in free agency (hi, ), bids could fly for that No. 5 pick. In fact, one team, the , has already been floated as a potential suitor. Buffalo owns the Nos. 21 and 22 picks and could package those as well as other selections to move up to No. 5 and grab one of the highly touted .

Only four times since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 have the Broncos owned a top-five pick in the draft. One of those, in 1983, landed the Broncos offensive lineman at No. 4 — who was quickly flipped to for John Elway.

That deal worked out pretty well.

The only time the Broncos have owned a top-five pick since Elway joined the front office was in his first year, 2011, and he took at No. 2.

That selection also worked out pretty well.

This year, the Broncos have an array of options to reshape their roster, and should they get their quarterback, the value of that first-round selection could help them build around their new quarterback.

According to an NFL source, the Broncos will roll over about $10.2 million in unused 2017 cap space. The 2018 salary cap has yet to be officially set — it will be in March before the new season begins — but early projections have it at $178 million or even more than $179 million. Based on those figures, Denver could enter free agency with more than $37 million in room as they pursue a high-priced quarterback. (Cousins is expected to garner close to $30 million a year.)

In his seven years in charge of the Broncos’ football operations, Elway has traded up within the first round twice, to land defensive end in 2015 and quarterback in 2016. He’s moved back only once, in 2012, shortly after he signed in free agency.

May recent history serve as a guide on the value of top-five picks? The Bears gave up their first-, third- and fourth-round selections last year, plus a third-round pick in 2018 just to jump one spot and land at No. 2 last year.

The Rams and Eagles both spent a fortune to climb into the top spots in 2016. The latter jumped from No. 8 to No. 2 to get and gave the Browns a 2016 first-, third- and fourth-round pick, along with a 2017 first- and 2018 second-rounder to do so.

In 2014, the Bills gave up two first-round picks and a fourth-round selection to move from No. 9 to No. 4 and get . In 2012, the Redskins gave up three first-rounders and a second-round pick to jump from No. 6 to No. 2 to get Robert Griffin. That same year, the Jaguars moved up two spots to No. 5, at a cost of their first- and fourth-round picks.

This offseason may be the most important of Elway’s executive tenure as he looks to right a team that got off track following Peyton Manning’s retirement. Lucky for the GM he’s sitting on gold.

As Broncos look to remake QBs room, what do they do with Paxton Lynch? By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post Feb. 27, 2018

When the 2017 season ended and Broncos general manager John Elway addressed all the problems that needed fixing, he said the plan hadn’t changed and that after an offseason change to the roster and staff, he hoped to have them on a track to contention. Eventually.

But the path to get there wasn’t yet clear. Few things were at that point in early January.

“Let me say this: We can sit here and go back and talk about what happened, (but) I think I would rather turn the page and go forward, obviously,” he said at the time. “That position didn’t perform as well as we wanted it to.”

Elway is on a mission to upgrade the position and over the last two months, as he and his staff have dove head first into evaluating current and prospective talent, his agenda for doing so has come into view.

Denver is on the shortlist of teams eager to land veteran Kirk Cousins, and its chance at possibly acquiring him will likely crystallize at the NFL scouting combine in this week. If it’s not Cousins, the Broncos are expected to pursue the second-tier free-agent quarterbacks, including , or AJ McCarron or perhaps even toy with trading for a veteran like or . And if all else fails, they’re armed with the Nov. 5 overall pick in a year stacked with young quarterback talent.

But as Denver’s plan to alter its quarterback room comes into form, so too, perhaps, has its plan for Paxton Lynch, the former first-round pick once pegged to be their answer at quarterback.

“The unfortunate thing with Paxton is we didn’t get a chance to see him as much as we wanted this year,” Elway said. “That’s the unfortunate thing. … That falls in the process, too, and we have to figure out where he is in the process as far as him developing as the quarterback. There’s no question, we have to figure that out, too.”

While the hunt for a starter is on, the Broncos’ quarterback room may receive two new additions as they build for the near and long-term future at the position. If they strike big and get Cousins, perhaps they draft another quarterback later in the draft. If they get one of the second-tier free agents, they could still use their first-round selection on a highly touted quarterback in the class of 2018.

As Elway has said in years past, he looking to win now and “from now on.”

But in putting the latest pieces together, it means ‘s time in Denver will likely expire. The seventh-round pick started 24 games in two years and is set to earn $1.9 million in salary next season — when he’ll be the odd man out. With possibly two new faces joining coming in, the Broncos figure to put him up for trade or release him outright.

Lynch, however, is an investment — a hefty investment the Broncos outbid the Cowboys to draft at No. 26 in 2016. He has two years remaining on his rookie deal, which includes a salary cap hit of about $2.6 million and a dead money value — the amount that would count against the Broncos’ cap if he’s released — of about $4.5 million. Which means keeping him is cheaper than cutting him, and Denver could use every penny it has to revamp the roster.

“We all understand on how the quarterback position has a direct influence on your team plays,” coach Vance Joseph said last week. “Obviously, we have to get better there, whoever is going to be the quarterback. That being said, we can get better in a lot of areas, like protecting the quarterback, continuing to run the football better and to play dominant defense.”

Neither Joseph nor Elway have publicly guaranteed a place for Lynch going forward. And although plans can change quickly in the NFL, given the financial commitment to Lynch and his limited playing time thus far, his return appears likely.

But his window to vie for a significant role, however, has closed significantly.

In consecutive offseasons, Lynch was defeated handily by Siemian in competitions for the starting job and has played only five NFL games. Lynch’s sophomore season was delayed because of a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason and his return late in the regular season was cut short by an ankle injury during a loss to the Raiders.

In his four career starts, he went 1-3, completed 62.5 percent of his passes, threw a total of three and four , was sacked 17 times and had a quarterback rating of 72.7. But Joseph’s and Elway’s assessment of Lynch’s final outing — a loss to the Chiefs, who undisputedly had the better quarterback in rookie that night — left the door open to his return.

“Watching him play Sunday, he made some positive strides,” Joseph said two days after the loss. “… As far as his growth, he needs to just keep playing and keep growing as far as a quarterback — his football IQ and all of those things.”

Broncos to meet with agent for Siemian (and another QB) at NFL Combine By Mike Klis 9NEWS Feb. 27, 2018

The Denver Broncos have a meeting scheduled with Mike McCartney -- the agent who represents quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemian and Senior Bowl MVP -- in Indianapolis this week, 9NEWS has learned.

According to NFL rules, McCartney and Broncos’ general manager John Elway can talk about Siemian and Lauletta all they want. Siemian is expected to be trade bait in the coming weeks. Let’s talk about this, guys.

Lauletta is the Richmond quarterback who in the college all-star game last month lit up Vance Joseph’s South secondary for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 8 of 12 passing.

But with all due respect to Siemian, an overachieving, 2015 seventh-round draft pick who became Denver’s starting quarterback the past two seasons, or Lauletta, a projected mid- to late-round draft pick in late-April, they are afterthoughts in the Broncos’ offseason plans.

If the Broncos are to jump from 5-11 AFC West doormat to 10-6-ish playoff contender in 2018 and legit Super Bowl contender in 2019, they must land Cousins.

Signing Cousins would surge bolts of enthusiasm into Broncos Country. Signing a quarterback other than Cousins would deliver diminishing jolts of excitement.

Case Keenum? Yeah, sure, fine. He’d move the needle. He is no doubt a playoff-caliber quarterback. There is some doubt as to whether he’s good enough to take a team all the way.

AJ McCarron? He’s got the potential to become a playoff-caliber starting quarterback – and not just a fill-in playoff starter as he was at the end of the 2015 season. Such a projection, though, requires a small hop of faith.

Sam Bradford or perhaps Tyrod Taylor if he is released by the Buffalo Bills? They’d be nice, short-term solutions as Paxton Lynch continues to develop.

But if there is one quarterback who can quickly transform the Broncos from a top 5-draft team to top- 12, period, it is Cousins.

Tampering rules prohibit Cousins from coming up when Elway and McCartney meet as part of the NFL Combine schedule that runs Tuesday through Monday. If that sentence just caused NFL observers to chuckle or cough, one other prominent NFL agent said Combine gatherings have increasingly become more greet than meet.

Consider also the NFL’s free agency “soft opening” doesn’t open until March 12, or almost a week later than usual, and Combine meetings between teams and agents may not get much past the preliminary stage.

Soon enough, it won’t matter how or when deals get done. Only that they do.

Here’s a look at the quarterbacks who figure to be on the Broncos’ radar as they approach this week’s Combine, understanding that in some cases, they may be moving targets:

Kirk Cousins, Washington

In his three full seasons as a starter, Cousins has averaged 4,392 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions for a 97.5 .

Those numbers make him a top 6 NFL quarterback. Not top 10. Top 6.

Only guys named Brady, Brees, Wilson, Ryan and Rodgers outperformed Cousins statistically the past three seasons.

Because multiple teams are expected to be interested in the prolific passer from Michigan State and the nation’s capital, the bidding process figures to land Cousins at minimum a five-year, $140 million contract ($28 million per year).

And no one would be surprised if his contract reaches $150 million, or $30 million a year. Or that 70 percent of his contract winds up fully guaranteed at signing.

For that kind of dough, it would be understandable if Elway wonders why Cousins, for all his impressive passing stats, was only 18-18-1 in his three seasons with Sean McVay as his offensive coordinator (2014- 16).

Then again, the Broncos must approach the Cousins’ bidding as if they’re underdogs. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea for Elway and head coach Vance Joseph to tell McCartney the Broncos’ problems in 2017 were all about the quarterback. Has it been mentioned McCartney also represents Siemian?

What Elway can sell is that of all the potential suitors for Cousins – a group that figures to include the , and possibly the Cardinals, Browns, Buffalo Bills, and – only the Broncos’ front office team has proven that given a franchise quarterback through free agency, they can build a Super Bowl-winning roster.

See the Peyton Manning signing in 2012, followed by arguably the most impressive four-season stretch in Broncos’ history.

The pursuit of Cousins assumes Washington will not use a franchise-tag prank and allow him to make a clean break to unrestricted free agency.

Case Keenum, Vikings

The Vikings are not expected to place a $23.5 million franchise tag on Keenum, who is coming off a career-best season after five underwhelming years with the Texans and Rams.

The estimated market for Keenum is between $18 million and $20 million a year. While that’s a more affordable rate than Cousins, Keenum also doesn’t have the physical tools normally aligned with top 10 quarterbacks. Even if Keenum was the league’s 7th-ranked passer in 2017.

Adding Keenum would give the Broncos more budget room to address other positions of need. It may also be a factor that Elway front-office lieutenant was the former coach who gave Keenum his first NFL job.

AJ McCarron, Bengals

His market figures to come in between $16 million and $18 million a year. McCarron was only a fifth- round draft pick after an incredible, successful run at Alabama and he looked good when he has played in the NFL.

He just hasn’t played much -- four starts total, one in the postseason, in four NFL seasons. At 27, McCarron is two years younger than Cousins and 2 ½ years younger than Keenum.

But how much better is McCarron than the Broncos’ 2017 QB crop of Siemian, Lynch and ?

Sam Bradford, Vikings/Tyrod Taylor, Bills/Josh McCown, Jets

One of these quarterbacks would be the fallback plan if the Broncos can’t land Cousins, Keenum or McCarron.

Each would come in between $10 million and $15 million a year, which has its advantages. Each would also make sense if the Broncos really believe Lynch can become their starting quarterback later in the 2018 season, or 2019.

Bradford, Taylor nor McCown should dissuade the Broncos from choosing their quarterback of the future with their No. 5 draft pick.

Bradford’s career has been marked with huge contracts and disappointing production mostly caused by knee injuries. But he still can flick it.

Taylor has one year and $16 million left on his contract with the Bills. It’s unlikely the Broncos would want to trade for a quarterback and surrender a draft pick when there will be so many available that don’t require compensation. So the Bills would likely have to release Taylor before the Broncos consider pursuing him.

Taylor would be the best match with Lynch if Broncos’ offensive coordinator wants to go heavy with a run-pass option system in 2018. Taylor and Lynch run the ball better than most quarterbacks.

McCown, who turns 39 on the Fourth of July, would be another bridge-starter option to Lynch or the No. 5 overall draft pick. McCown's agent, by the way, is Mike McCartney. Good, bad or indifferent, McCartney and Elway figure to get know each other better this offseason.

Nick Foles, Eagles

The backup QB/Super Bowl MVP has one year and $7 million left on his contract. He may become available for trade, but unless the Eagles would take, say, a third-round draft pick in return, the Broncos shouldn’t consider him.

And according to former GM Bill Polian, the Eagles shouldn’t hold trade discussions with Foles unless there were two, first-round and two, second-round draft picks in the proposal.

Which is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous than believing a team can get a Super Bowl MVP for a third- round draft pick.

Baker Mayfield/, No. 5 draft pick

Ideally, the Broncos sign Cousins or Keenum and trade back from No. 5 to land potentially a later first- round pick and another in the second round. Something like that.

A franchise quarterback and two starting players. Boom. The Broncos are fixed. Download your paperless playoff tickets.

But let’s say Cousins signs with the Jets, Keenum re-signs with the Vikings and McCarron likes the idea of having nowhere-to-go-but-up with the Browns.

The No. 5 overall draft pick is not a bad fallback plan. No. 5 might be a little rich for the 6-foot Mayfield, but the Broncos can easily fall in love with his fiery leadership and ability to throw intermediate routes accurately and make plays with his legs.

And any team who passes on Allen will wince. His physical ability is by far No. 1 among the quarterback prospects. He is big, agile, strong-armed and personable.

He has the skills to become an all-time great. Accuracy and decision-making, though, are concerns. Allen would need a year or two of polish and the Broncos need to get better yesterday.

The Broncos also like , who seems to be the consensus No. 1 quarterback because of measurables, arm strength, athleticism and experience of playing under pressure. Turnovers are a concern.

Elway, his top wingman Matt Russell, Joseph and Kubiak have likely already settled on a plan for upgrading their quarterback position and team overall. They can reinforce, or tweak, their plan during NFL Combine week.

Executing the plan, though, is still two weeks away. Broncos need franchise QB, but fixing offensive line just as crucial By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Feb. 27, 2018

As the NFL’s scouting combine cranks up later this week, it’s clear the Denver Broncos' faithful may have spent as much time talking about the quarterbacks headed to Indianapolis as the quarterbacks themselves have spent preparing for the event.

And while the quarterbacks have been front and center since the end of the Broncos’ disappointing 2017 season, the team was a dismal 5-11 and it has needs well beyond the guy behind center.

This is the first of three one-a-day looks at where things stand at the Broncos’ “other’’ biggest positions of need.

Today: Offensive line

Tuesday: Wide receiver/tight end

Where things stand: The Broncos are essentially entering Year 5 or so of their efforts to find a starting five up front that fits what they do on offense and plays with some kind of comfort level together. Peyton Manning covered up the deficiencies at times, but over the past two years Denver's quarterbacks have seen their potential development stifled, and Trevor Siemian has had two shoulder surgeries in large part because the Broncos haven’t played with any sort of consistency up front. The Broncos haven’t had the same starters for at least eight games in back-to-back seasons in the offensive line since 2008-09 -- Mike Shanahan's last season and Josh McDaniels' first.

Money matters: The Broncos have two starters from last season among their top nine salary-cap hits for 2018. Right tackle , who closed out 2017 on injured reserve, will count just over $7 million against the cap. Guard Ron Leary, who also finished ’17 on injured reserve, will count $8.8 million against the cap. Center , who has played every snap in the past two seasons despite surgery on each hip between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, is slated to be a restricted free agent. That means teams can negotiate with Paradis, but the Broncos will have the right to match any offers. The Broncos will also set a compensation level on Paradis just before free agency opens and that will quickly show how interested they are in keeping him.

To-do list: The Broncos have to make decisions at right tackle, guard and on Paradis' future. Watson showed the athleticism the Broncos had hoped for at right tackle, but he has struggled with injuries over his career -- he has never played more than 12 games in any season -- and his play was decidedly spotty in pass protection before he missed nine games this past season. Overall, the Broncos are thin on the depth chart at tackle as , a rookie last season, is the only player at the position signed for ’18 who has started more than nine games in a season. The Broncos also have to decide if this is the year Connor McGovern will start at guard, but it’s another position where the Broncos need help. And if Paradis is the long-term option at center, a multi-year contract will have to be put in front of him at some point. He lost a year on the free-agency clock when he was put on the as a rookie, but his play in training camp that season showed he clearly should have been on the roster. Couple that with his play with hip problems in ’16 -- he played every snap despite often practicing just one day a week -- and he’s likely due a reward, or at least he and his representatives will likely feel that way.

The bottom line: Make the chicken-or-egg argument all you want concerning what needs to be fixed first, but it seems illogical to go big in free agency at quarterback or use the No. 5 pick of the draft at quarterback -- or both -- if the Broncos don’t first decide what kind of players they want in the offensive line. Because if the mix-and-match plan stays the same, any new quarterback will have the same problems staying upright as the old ones did.

Broncos should remember their QB draft history this offseason, lest they repeat it By Woody Paige KMGH Feb. 27, 2018

According to 18th century Irish-Anglo statesman Edmund Burke, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.’’

If the Broncos don’t study their own past, they are doomed to defeat.

Since 1992, the Broncos have drafted five quarterbacks in the first two rounds. Only one has been a starter in post-season games with Denver. And, after one playoff victory one loss in 2011, was jettisoned to the Jets the next season.

The other four were (’92), (’06), Brock Osweiler (’12) and Paxton Lynch (’16). In fact, of the 42 quarterbacks drafted by the Broncos in 58 previous years, only one other than Tebow ever played in a post-season game. Gary Kubiak, selected in the eighth round in 1983, appeared in 11 playoff games as a backup to John Elway.

Conversely, in the franchise’s history, the Broncos have played in 42 playoff games (which is, oddly enough, equal to the number of quarterbacks they’ve selected in drafts). The starters in 40 were acquired by the Broncos in trades and as veteran free agents.

In perhaps the greatest trade ever in the NFL, the Broncos got Elway – who started 21 of 22 post-season. The other was his rookie season, 1983, when Steve DeBerg, obtained from the 49ers in 1981 for a fourth-round draft choice, started the playoff game in Seattle, but was replaced by Elway. The most legendary athlete in Denver history would lead the Broncos to five Super Bowls, winning the last two. He was 14-7 in the postseason.

In another extraordinary deal, the Broncos sent quarterback Steve Ramsey to the Giants for the washed- up . However, Morton wasn’t finished. He was the starting quarterback when the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl in the 1977 season. Morton would start two more (losses).

Gus Frerotte, signed as a free agent in 2000, was the starter for one playoff game after taking over for the injured and leading the Broncos into the postseason. Griese, a third-round pick, was another Broncos’ drafted quarterback who never started a playoff game.

The Broncos beat out other teams for high-profile free agent quarterbacks in 2003 () and 2012 (Peyton Manning).

Plummer was lured away from the Cardinals, who were unable to sign him to a new contract, and chose the Broncos over the Bears because of coach Mike Shanahan, the location and a playoff-ready team.

Plummer signed a seven-year contract for $40 million, with a $13 million bonus. He played four seasons with the Broncos, compiling a 39-15 record (59.1 percent winning percentage), was the starter in four post-season games (2-2) and guided the Broncos to the AFC Championship in 2005 (a loss to the Steelers).

The next season, after Plummer and the Broncos were 7-4, rookie (No. 11 overall choice) Jay Cutler was inserted by Shanahan as the starter. The Broncos finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs. After the season, a bitter Plummer was traded to the Buccaneers (and coach Jon Gruden), and decided to retire prematurely, leaving a guaranteed $5 million.

Griese never started a playoff game for the Broncos or any other team.

Manning, who chose the Broncos over 12 other suitors (including Washington, whose coach was Shanahan), agreed to a five-year, $96 million contract (with no bonus) in March 2012. He played four years, started eight post-season games and played in two Super Bowls, winning one.

So, which strategy has been more successful for the Broncos – drafting quarterbacks high or low; signing unrestricted veteran free agent quarterbacks, or trading for young and old quarterbacks?

The answer is as discernible as the nose on Cyrano de Bergerac’s face.

The Broncos always have been awful at drafting quarterbacks in the first, second, third, fourth rounds – and beyond.

The franchise has had a remarkable run with Morton, Elway, Plummer and Manning. All four had winning records and combined for 38 playoff games, 10 AFC Championship games and eight Super Bowls (three triumphs).

Morton was 34 when he joined the Broncos, and Manning was 36 in his first season in Denver. Elway was 23, and Plummer was 28.

Kirk Cousins is 29. Case Keenum turned 30 this month.

The Broncos should heed Edmund Burke's advice.

Broncos quarterback choices through eyes of combine, free agency By Troy Renck KMGH Feb. 27, 2018

This time, there will be a Plan B.

When the Broncos pursued Peyton Manning in free agency, they pushed their chips to the center of the table. It was Manning or nothing. They hit the jackpot. Six years later, the Broncos will be more versatile.

They would love to land Kirk Cousins, the belle of the free agent ball. They can say with a straight face they possess a strong chance of signing him. But Monday the likelihood of pulling it off decreased slightly with the NFL Network report that Minnesota will not place the franchise tag on Case Keenum. It leaves the Vikings poised and capable of wooing Cousins with a compelling argument that he can lead them to the Super Bowl in his first season.

The Broncos cannot say that after a 5-11 campaign, one of their most forgettable in 50 years. The Jets cannot say that given their lack of playoff success since exited the building.

The Vikings will have money and a need, ramping up speculation they will aggressively chase Cousins, something I have been writing about for weeks.

Where does this leave Denver?

The Broncos do have a Plan B. From everything I have been told by sources, they like Cousins. He is durable, dependable and brings an identity that would be welcomed by an offense that has all the personality of khaki Dockers. Still, they crunch the numbers. They know Cousins has fumbled 31 times over the last three seasons, losing 11. And he will throw the occasional . He is good, but if the price tag reaches $30 million per season it's hard to see the Broncos rationalizing that figure given their multiple roster needs. It makes no sense to pay Cousins, then not surround him with good players.

If the figure is closer to $25 million, Denver would have wiggle room to address deficiencies.

The Broncos will not travel to Indianapolis in the Family Truckster with a "Cousins or Bust!" placard in the rearview window. They will have viable alternatives, including the draft.

The second tier of free agent quarterbacks brings a lower price tag and greater risk. Denver will have interest in Keenum. But where is the line in the sand? He was 9-15 as a starter prior to his magical performance in Minnesota in 2017. Is he the NFL's "Macarena" -- a one-year wonder?

Keenum figures to receive at least $20 million per season, if not $23 to $24 million. Think of the Brock Osweiler contract. No way Keenum receives less than Osweiler. It would be a prudent deal if Keenum's performance could be trusted. Broncos advisor Gary Kubiak knows Keenum well, and that should help in any evaluation.

Keenum went 11-3 during the regular season, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns and seven picks. Cousins, who has not missed a start in three seasons, posted a 9-7 record, connecting on 69.8 percent of his passes for 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Keenum was sacked 22 times compared to 26 for Cousins.

By any measure, Keenum delivered. But can he duplicate it with a new offensive coordinator and fewer weapons? It's a fair concern.

If not Keenum, A.J. McCarron's name will surface. The risk increases given his lack of resume. He has made three career starts, going 2-1. To sign him would likely mean drafting a quarterback in the second or third round.

Twitter can serve as an echo chamber. However, my Twitter village brings valuable Broncos' insights. And the question emerged quickly with the Keenum news: Would the Broncos be better off drafting their franchise quarterback with the fifth overall pick?

This, too, makes sense. However, the team's posture this offseason shows no signs of the type of patience required for starting a rookie. At the NFL combine this week, the Broncos will receive a better look and additional interviews with prospects , Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and . They also figure to get a handle on what it will take to sign Cousins, if not Keenum. (And begin determining the trade market for cornerback ).

There will be no shortage of quarterback options. And unlike with Manning, the Broncos will need to be prepared to explore many of them.

Paul Klee: Kirk Cousins-to-the-Broncos is such a great fit it almost hurts By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette Feb. 27, 2018

Kirk Cousins should take the money and run. The most money, as much as he can tug from his next NFL employer. Grab it and sprint to the nearest Wells Fargo, buy an island, donate to the Humane Society where he adopted his dog, open a coffee shop named “You like that?!”, help people.

Cash in, Captain. Have you seen the size and speed of the mercenaries trying to break his body? Cousins should request a king's ransom while he can still walk without a limp and remember where he put the car keys. He's the most coveted free agent since Peyton Manning in 2012. Take advantage.

Where will Cousins play in 2018 and beyond? Follow the money.

As a player and a person, Cousins-to-the-Broncos is such a great fit it almost hurts. Not only would he give the Broncos a franchise quarterback who can win the game on a rare off day for the defense; his bravado and faith immediately would balance the chutzpah found on the defense at Dove Valley. Ever since Manning retired, the locker room has been imbalanced, pride (defense) and hide (offense).

But Cousins-to-the-Broncos is not what folks around these hills should be rooting for. Oh, no. The best long-term scenario for the Broncos is John Elway and his band of talent evaluators — Gary Kubiak now has an office at Dove Valley, a smallish space described to me as a cubbyhole, but an office nonetheless — nailing their first-round pick with a quarterback who doesn’t break the bank.

Then you’ve got options. You’ve got options to sign an offensive tackle like Buena Vista’s and, suddenly, field one of the better offensive lines in the league. You’ve got options to sign a linebacker who can cover these elusive tailbacks and tight ends who plague the Broncos every year. You’ve got the option of keeping Aqib Talib, the heart and soul of the “No Fly Zone.” I like options. Don't you?

The Broncos roster has more holes than folks around these hills care to admit. Cousins fills one, the biggest one, but at what cost? The best value in sports is a capable QB on a rookie contract. As a card- carrying member of the Bad Baker Band, my draft preference is in print. Make mine Mayfield, the polarizing Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma. But with this many ex-quarterbacks in the room — Elway, Kubiak and Vance Joseph at the top — the front office should be able to identify the right quarterback for the Broncos.

This should be a positive time for the Broncos. There’s beloved owner Pat Bowlen’s inevitable enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, and Denver is a finalist to host the NFL draft in 2019 or 2020. Why not host the latter at Red Rocks?

But the quarterback quandary hangs over the operation like the brown cloud on a calm day.

Follow the money. That’s what Cousins should do. He’s 29 with a wife, baby boy and a rescued Goldendoodle named Bentley. This is Broncos Country, but it’s also dog country, and there’s no doubt Bentley’s fam would fit right in.

Cousins is the best quarterback available, and guys like Von Miller know it.

“I would like to have Kirk,” Miller said on the Dan Patrick Show.

I would like to have Cousins here, too.

Just not at this price: $60 million guaranteed — in the first year, what the Jets could offer Cousins, according to the New York Post. Or a fully guaranteed contract, which could happen with Cousins, according to ProFootballTalk. Times change, but only two of the past 10 Super Bowl-winning QBs made more than $8 million the season they won the big game. And Peyton Manning and accepted less than what they are worth to win Super Bowls.

At no point since 1994 has the Super Bowl champion plunged more than 13 percent of its cap space into the starting quarterback, according to Zack Moore of OverTheCap.com. A $30-million annual salary would represent roughly 16 percent of a team's payroll. You need good players everywhere.

When I left Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field in November, it wasn't Carson Wentz's powerful right arm that stood out. It was the sheer talent up and down the most complete roster in the NFL, a roster so deep it withstood the loss of Wentz and still succeeded. Before the Eagles won the Super Bowl, they showed the gap between a championship roster and Denver's: 51-23.

Where will Cousins go? The Broncos should follow the money — then hunker down with all those front- office quarterbacks and draft the right one.

10 players who could be stars of the NFL scouting combine By Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz USA Today Feb. 27, 2018

The NFL scouting combine might not be the make-or-break stage for draft prospects that some depict it as, but the event is undeniably a crucial part of the evaluation process.

With on-field workouts starting Friday for the annual event in Indianapolis, scouts and general managers will get an up-close chance to cross-reference players' physical profiles with their work on the field while also interviewing them away from it.

Here are 10 prospects who are poised to create the biggest buzz with their performances:

1. Sam Darnold, QB, USC

It was at the combine a year ago that hype around Darnold took off, as NFL personnel talked up the then-redshirt freshman after a dazzling Rose Bowl. Despite an uneven 2017 season in which he accounted for 23 turnovers, the touted dual-threat passer is in line to use this year's event to bolster his case to go No. 1 overall. His elongated release and sometimes off-kilter footwork will be closely examined, but he should earn rave reviews for his arm strength, athleticism and character.

2. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Despite more buzz surrounding Baker Mayfield and some of his other peers, Rosen, the former Bruins star, is unmatched in this draft when assessing his footwork, mechanics and overall polish. Those assets should be readily evident in drills, though he will have to quell concerns about his outspoken personality. So long as he makes the right impressions in interviews, Rosen should solidify his status as a potential top-five pick.

3. , RB, Penn State

Already the top running back in his class, Barkley might have his sights set on a higher prize. The do- everything threat could become the first running back taken in the first two picks since in 2006, and the combine could serve as a launching pad. Though his outstanding athleticism was readily apparent throughout his prolific career, expect the buzz around him to only grow louder after his performance in Indianapolis.

4. , WR, Alabama

There's little certainty about the wide receiver class, but Ridley might be the most reliable option. Even amid Alabama's uneven passing performances, he proved to be one of the smoothest and most natural players at his position. Though he might draw scrutiny for a slender frame, his work in drills should give him a chance to stand out from the crowd.

5. , DT, Washington

Nose tackles are seldom among the biggest stars of the combine, but few players at the position resemble Vea. At 6-5 and 340 pounds, he has shown rare ability as a run stuffer. Vea's power and overall physical ability should entice teams and serve as a reminder that he still has ample potential to unlock.

6. , DT,

Though he may be a year or two away from being able to hold his own against NFL starters, Bryan has traits that are hard to find from linemen with his build (6-4, 290). His best fit might be as a 3-4 defensive end, as he can wriggle past blockers and disrupt both against the pass and run. His burst and overall movement skills should turn heads.

7. , LB, Virginia Tech

At 6-5 and 250 pounds with rare speed and athleticism, he is a singular prospect in this class. His instincts are raw, but he has proven capable of compensating for them with his physical tools. Expect him to emerge as one of the combine's best overall testers.

8. , S, Florida State

Two years after was drafted, another Seminoles defensive back is poised to be one of the combine's biggest standouts. At 6-3 and 215, James has the range and physical approach to make plays at any level of the field. Teams will want to evaluate how he has recovered from a torn lateral meniscus suffered he suffered in 2016, but he should win them over with a tone-setting confidence similar to the one Ramsey brings.

9. Donte Jackson, CB, LSU

Weigh-ins could be the only hit to his stock, as the lean corner likely will post some of the event's most eye-popping numbers. The former track star has set his sights on John Ross' year-old 40-yard dash record (4.22) and should notch one of the fastest times this year. Jackson still requires tutelage on route recognition and the finer points of the position, but he should have little trouble landing with a team willing to develop his substantial skill set.

10. , CB, Ohio State

The Buckeyes have produced three first-round cornerbacks in the past two years, yet Ward has already distinguished himself. Though former teammate had better playmaking skills at this stage, Ward is difficult for receivers to shake thanks to his fluid hips and expert route recognition. Expectations are high for his 40-yard dash, and he could firm up his place as the top option at his position.

NFL combine preview: What all 4 top QBs need to do in Indianapolis By Frank Schwab Yahoo.com Feb. 27, 2018

When we look back at the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, we’ll probably be laughing at some of the misses at quarterback. Because we already have a good idea why those quarterbacks will fail.

As the NFL world meets in Indianapolis this week for the scouting combine, the top quarterbacks will be the biggest story. There are four consensus first-round quarterbacks — Wyoming’s Josh Allen, USC’s Sam Darnold, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and UCLA’s Josh Rosen — and you can make a case for any of the four being the first picked. You can also make a case for any of the four being the last of the group picked. Rarely have we seen a group of quarterbacks like this, where each of the four could become stars, but none of them are sure things. Each of them has a concerning weakness (late last season, Yahoo’s Charles Robinson had a breakdown of each quarterback from scouts).

There will be some nervous times for teams near the top of the draft. It’s a good bet not all four of the quarterbacks will become top-end starters, because the percentage of first-round quarterbacks who succeed is far from 100 percent. Since they’re bunched closely together, you might end up being mocked as the executive who passed on Darnold because of a mechanical issue or Mayfield because of his height as they become NFL stars. And it’s not even out of the realm of possibility that Louisville’s ends up as a better pick than all four quarterbacks already mentioned. Jackson will be a big deal at the combine, too.

There are many things outside of quarterbacks to be sorted out at the combine this week. Teams will be looking at hundreds of prospects trying to find some that intrigue them. Business between teams and agents, such as the Saints trying to finalize a contract, will happen too. But there will be a close eye on the big-name quarterbacks as they try to separate themselves. Among the group of top quarterbacks, here’s the potential fatal flaw for each one and what he can do to fix it as the combine begins Tuesday:

Wyoming’s Josh Allen Fatal flaw: Accuracy

The all-Mountain West first-team quarterback last season was Colorado State’s Nick Stevens. The second-team quarterback was of Boise State. Allen was one of three quarterbacks to get honorable mention.

College production doesn’t necessarily matter. But if you’re an NFL team looking to spend a top-10 (Top- five? First overall pick?) on Allen, it’s frightening he didn’t dominate a non-power five conference. Allen’s biggest issue in college, perhaps other than his supporting cast, was accuracy. He completed only 56 percent of his passes in 2016 and 56.3 percent in 2017. Inaccurate passers in college usually don’t find accuracy in the NFL.

But NFL teams are still smitten with Allen’s physical package of size, athleticism and arm strength. Allen won’t change the accuracy questions throwing in shorts at Indianapolis, but he needs to play to his strengths. He probably can’t drop to his knees and throw a ball 50 yards during his combine workout, but if he shows NFL teams he still has better physical tools than the other three top quarterbacks, he’ll stay in the conversation to be the first quarterback picked.

USC’s Sam Darnold Fatal flaw: Turnovers

Darnold’s 22 turnovers last season tied for the most in FBS. Darnold lost nine fumbles and had 13 interceptions. In the final game of his college career, he turned it over three times in a 24-7 loss to Ohio State.

A year ago Darnold was supposed to be the no-doubt first pick of this draft, but his 2017 season was underwhelming. Mechanics are an issue, and that doesn’t help with the turnover issue. He has a bit of a looping throwing motion. Maybe that can be fixed. It’s not impossible to overcome a slow release, but it’s not ideal to give NFL cornerbacks and safeties a head start with a long throwing motion. Darnold has said he plans to throw at the combine, and any improvements to his motion would be a plus. His athleticism will surely stand out. Teams will have to figure out if the turnovers are fixable.

Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield Fatal flaw: Size

Presumably, Mayfield hasn’t grown any taller since the Senior Bowl, when he measured under 6-foot-1. It’s a good bet that alone eliminates Mayfield from consideration for some teams. Drew Brees and have broken some barriers for short quarterbacks, but there’s a reason some teams have size requirements at the position.

Mayfield can’t do anything about his stature, but he will need to interview well at the combine. The Heisman Trophy winner’s ability is unquestioned. He’s a deadly accurate passer, athletic, amazingly productive and by all accounts a leader who teammates rally around. But he has questions about his maturity. comparisons seem unfair, but there were enough moments in college that NFL teams will want to find out if he’ll be an issue off the field. He can’t change questions about his height, and his workouts in Indianapolis will be important too, but answering off-field questions might help him most.

UCLA’s Josh Rosen Fatal flaw: Maturity

Between now and the draft, you’ll hear a lot about how polished Rosen is as a passer. He has great mechanics. You’ll also hear plenty about his maturity.

From Charles Robinson’s report late last season after talking to evaluators, Rosen can come off as arrogant, and his leadership isn’t where it needs to be yet. There are some football questions, such as him forcing throws, and he doesn’t have a clean health history. He missed time in 2016 with a shoulder injury and a second concussion last season caused him to miss UCLA’s . But it seems Rosen’s attitude and maturity might be his biggest issue.

What evaluators will see when Rosen throws at the combine (which he is expected to do) is a very advanced passer. That part doesn’t seem to be in doubt. They’ll see a potential Week 1 starter, but like Mayfield, how Rosen does in interviews could determine where he goes among the fascinating quartet of top quarterbacks.

Roger Goodell Expected to Fine Jerry Jones Millions of Dollars By Ken Belson New York Times Feb. 27, 2018

With the support of many N.F.L. owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell is prepared to escalate his public feud with Jerry Jones, the owner of the and long one of the most influential people in the league, by fining him millions of dollars for his efforts to to derail negotiations to renew Goodell’s contract and for his outspoken defense of a star player who was suspended, according to five league officials with direct knowledge of the situation.

The punishment will be issued in the coming weeks by Goodell, who will declare that Jones’s actions were detrimental to the league, which rarely shows such acute signs of acrimony among owners and the commissioner’s office. Goodell has been reluctant to be seen as exacting retribution for the way Jones tried to sabotage his contract talks, but he was urged to bring the penalties by several owners who believed that Jones had crossed an unspoken boundary by threatening his colleagues.

In November, Jones hired the high-profile lawyer David Boies and said he was prepared to sue the six owners on the league’s compensation committee, which had been working for months on extending Goodell’s contract. Jones also lobbied loudly for running back not to be penalized, and reportedly tried to influence league officials deciding his case. Elliott had been suspended by the league for six games before the season after the N.F.L. investigated domestic-assault allegations.

Jones will be ordered to pay the legal fees that the committee incurred defending itself, as well as the legal expenses the N.F.L. spent defending its decision to suspend Elliott.

A spokesman for the Cowboys said the team was unaware of the impending penalties and did not immediately have a comment. A spokesman for the N.F.L. said the league had no comment.

The genesis of the issue dates back about a year. In the months before Elliott, the Cowboys’ star running back, was suspended in August, Jones said publicly that his player did not deserve to be penalized after a former girlfriend accused him of domestic violence in an incident that predated his entry into the N.F.L. Jones also tried to influence one of the league’s top investigators, according to ESPN.

Elliott was not arrested or charged by prosecutors, but the N.F.L. used statements by a former girlfriend of Elliott’s, along with photos of injuries he was accused of inflicting upon her, to justify the suspension.

After Elliott was suspended, Jones continued to support him. Elliott took his case to federal court, where his appeals were ultimately denied.

At the same time, Jones, who was a nonvoting member of the compensation committee, tried to persuade many of the league’s owners that Goodell’s contract extension should be far less generous that the one that was being proposed.

Jones was aware as early as August that only about 12 percent of Goodell’s compensation was guaranteed, and the rest would be based on whether he and the league met a variety of financial targets. Jones, however, continued to argue that Goodell was being overpaid. Though some owners were sympathetic to his stance, many of them backed away from supporting him when he threatened to sue the members of the compensation committee.

The compensation committee includes some of the most powerful owners in the league, and close confidants of the commissioner. The members are the owners of the Chiefs, Falcons, Giants, Patriots, Steelers and Texans.

Soon after Elliott exhausted his appeals, Jones hired Boies, who has over the years represented the N.F.L. In early November, Jones told the six owners on the committee that he had hired Boies and was prepared to take them to court to stop them from finalizing Goodell’s deal.

That set off an embarrassing volley of letters between lawyers for the compensation committee and Jones, and turned the issue of Goodell’s contract extension into a public talking point just as the league was grappling with the fallout from player protests during the playing of the national anthem.

Jones ultimately backed down on his threat to sue, but the ill will remained. At a league meeting in Irving, Tex., in December, Jones was upbraided for his behavior by many owners, including some who rarely weigh in strongly on league issues.

At the same meeting, with the support of most owners, Goodell was given a five-year extension. Under its terms, he has the possibility of earning as much as $200 million.

John Elway has meeting with agent who has a client they can’t talk about yet By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk Feb. 27, 2018

When Broncos boss John Elway gets to Indianapolis this week, he’ll have plenty of meetings with players as well as agents.

So the fact that he’s meeting with the agent for one of his own quarterbacks might not necessarily be a big deal — as long as he doesn’t do something so blatantly illegal as tampering.

According to Mike Klis of KUSA, Elway has a meeting scheduled with agent Mike McCartney.

McCartney represents Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian, who appears be on the trade block. McCartney also represents Richmond quarterback and Senior Bowl MVP Kyle Lauletta, who the Broncos staff got a close look at already this offseason.

McCartney also represents some guy named Kirk Cousins, who Broncos players have already started lobbying, even though Elway can’t until the legal tampering period begins in two weeks.

Of course, gambling is illegal at Bushwood, and I never slice. Oh wait, Smails was the judge Elway didn’t endorse, where were we?

Oh, yes, we were at the ridiculousness of the notion that teams wait until March 12 to make their intentions clear to pending free agents. Of course, Elway and McCartney could conceivably have an appetizer and a salad and a dessert but no steak, so there’s no reason to think that the status of Cousins might come up during their conversation.

It’s probably totally about Lauletta and we’re just missing the obvious.

And unless Elway or McCartney want to fess up (spoiler alert, they won’t), it’s also impossible for the league to enforce this rule. Which makes it like a lot of the rest of their rules, which are trotted out and enforced from time to time.

Commissioner has “final and binding” power to determine legal fees to be paid by Jerry Jones By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk Feb. 27, 2018

The effort to recover legal fees, reportedly in excess of $2 million, from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not arise under the rule that allows Commissioner Roger Goodell to impose punishment for conduct detrimental to the game. Instead, the authority comes from Resolution FC-6, adopted in 1997.

Resolution FC-6 specifically relates to any effort by “any member club or any entity controlled by any direct or indirect owner of an interest in a member club” that becomes involved in litigation against the NFL or any of the member clubs. The resolution, a copy of which PFT has obtained, applies not only when a member club initiates litigation against the league or other member clubs but also when a member club “joins, has a direct, football-related financial interest in, or offers substantial assistance in any lawsuit or other legal, regulatory, or administrative proceeding” against the league or other member clubs.

Resolution FC-6 gives the Commissioner or his designee “final and binding” authority” to “determine the amount of said legal fees, litigation expenses, and costs,” after the club to be charged those amounts has “notice and an opportunity . . . to be heard.”

So what do these provisions mean, as it relates to the effort to collect more than $2 million from Jones?

First, the claim won’t be against Jones directly, but against the Cowboys. It’s a distinction without a difference, but the reports indicating that the effort will be targeted against Jones personally makes it feel more like revenge or retribution than it would be if the effort were reported more accurately as a claim only against the Cowboys.

Second, as it relates to the Jones’ effort to block the Commissioner’s contract extension via threat of litigation, no lawsuit was ever filed. Resolution FC-6 applies only when a member club “initiates, has a direct football-related financial interest in, or offers substantial assistance to any lawsuit or other legal, regulatory, or administrative proceeding.” The flurry of letters and communications that occur under the threat of a potential lawsuit (a common practice in civil litigation) do not constitute actual litigation. Thus, the Cowboys/Jones will be able to argue that none of the fees incurred in connection with his retention of lawyer David Boies and the back-and-forth arising from the mere possibility of litigation fall within the scope of Resolution FC-6.

Third, the Cowboys/Jones specifically refrained from becoming involved in the Ezekiel Elliott litigation. Team executive Stephen Jones characterized the team as “observers” in the litigation initially filed by Elliott in Texas, which was followed by the league filing a lawsuit of its own in New York.

Fourth, the question will become whether the Cowboys/Jones crossed the line into offering “substantial assistance” to Elliott via the declaration filed by Cowboys general counsel Jason Cohen (who testified that the Cowboys would suffer irreparable harm if Elliott is suspended and who corroborated the alleged effort to conceal the opinions of league investigator Kia Roberts from Goodell) or other specific help that the Cowboys provided.

Fifth, the Cowboys/Jones will have an opportunity, if they so desire, to pour over all of the various invoices and other itemizations of charges to argue that the lawyers charged too much for their services or otherwise engaged in unnecessary or irrelevant projects. If the details of any invoices showing excessive legal charges make their way into the hands of the media, that could prove to be embarrassing to the league.

Sixth, Resolution FC-6 specifically preserves the ability of the Commissioner to impose punishment against Jones for conduct detrimental to the league. Thus, the issue of legal fees may be not the end of this effort to recover money from Jones for his behavior in 2017, but the beginning.

Seventh, while Resolution FC-6 gives the Commissioner the sole power to determine the amount of fees to be paid, it’s silent as to the process for resolving the question of whether a member club has actually triggered the reimbursement obligation. Ultimately, then, the Cowboys/Jones eventually could file litigation aimed at proving that the Cowboys/Jones never filed litigation or substantially assisted litigation filed by Elliott.

Will free-agent quarterbacks fall victim to collusion? By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk Feb. 27, 2018

For the first time since the NFL launched a system of free agency that relies heavily on a salary cap, a healthy complement of veteran quarterbacks soon will hit the open market. And even though recent growth in the salary cap indicates that someone already should be making more than $30 million per year at the quarterback position, there’s a not-so-subtle sense emerging that teams will refuse to overspend.

It could be coincidental, fueled by a mutual realization based on Jacksonville’s decision to keep at $18 million per year that it becomes impossible to contend if too much money is devoted to the quarterback position. It also could be deliberately coincidental; it could be the product of collusion.

Yes, collusion happens. Yes, it’s hard to prove collusion. (‘s pending grievance may prove otherwise.) Regardless, the league has a built-in structure for communicating to teams cautionary tales of overspending, and for nudging them away from blowing the curve. Coincidentally (or not), reports have emerged in recent days that teams like the Jets won’t give Kirk Cousins a blank check — and that teams like the Cardinals aren’t even interested in joining what could become a runaway bid process for the first healthy franchise quarterback under the age of 30 to hit the open market.

This dynamic could impact other quarterbacks, like Drew Brees. A team intent on competing to win the Super Bowl this year should offer him $30 million per year. Don’t be surprised if people start talking about his age or otherwise picking nits about the current state of his game, as a precursor to no one offering dramatically more than whatever the Saints will pay.

Ditto for lesser options like Case Keenum and A.J. McCarron. Some now believe that each guy will be hard pressed to get more than Bortles got from the Jaguars.

Then there are the red-flag veterans, competent players with lingering knee problems. The money simply may not be there for Sam Bradford and , if the money isn’t as big as it was expected to be for Cousins, Brees, Keenum, and McCarron.

The ultimate leverage for most quarterback-needy teams will be the draft, where potential quarterbacks can be found at very affordable five-year deals. Look at the list of annual pay rates for quarterbacks; the bottom third of it is full of players operating under the terms of assembly-line deals crafted by a system aimed at preventing busts from stealing money — and that also allows teams to squat on talented players for four or five years at well-below-market rates.

Half of league spent above the cap in 2017 By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk Feb. 27, 2018

Far more important than the annual salary cap is the actual cash spent each year, by every team. Last year, with the cap at $167 million, half of the teams spent more than the cap, and another half of the teams were under it.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, teams collectively spent $5.274 billion in 2017, an average of 98.69-percent of the total cap. The highest spenders were the Lions, at $204.46 million, or 122.4 percent of the cap.

At the other end were the Cowboys, who spent only $115.65 million. That’s only 69.26 percent of the cap.

The difference between cash and cap comes from prorated bonuses paid out in past year (for those currently spending under the cap in cash spending) or prorated bonuses paid out in the current year (for those currently spending over it).

Here’s the full list of cash spent in 2017:

1. Lions, $204.46 million (122.4 percent).

2. Panthers, $198.76 million (119.02 percent).

3. Packers, $183.23 million (109.72 percent).

4. Jaguars, $181.44 million (108.65 percent).

5. Dolphins, $179.43 million (107.44 percent).

6. Bears, $179.23 million (107.32 percent).

7. Browns, $177.1 million (106.05 percent).

8. 49ers, $174.57 million (104.53 percent).

9. Falcons, $173.88 million (104.12 percent).

10. Washington, $173.78 million (104.06 percent).

11. Raiders, $173.29 million (103.76 percent).

12. Vikings, $172.86 million (103.51 percent).

13. Eagles, $170.64 million (102.18 percent).

14. Patriots, $168.97 million (101.18 percent).

15. Seahawks, $168.61 million (100.96 percent).

16. Cardinals, $167.86 million (100.51 percent).

17. Steelers, $165.07 million (98.85 percent).

18. Titans, $164.24 million (98.35 percent).

19. Giants, $162.64 million (97.39 percent).

20. Bengals, $160.81 million (96.29 percent).

21. Chargers, $160.58 million (96.15 percent).

22. Rams, $159.2 million (95.33 percent).

23. Buccaneers, $156.87 million (93.93 percent).

24. Saints, $155.93 million (93.37 percent).

25. Broncos, $152.55 million (91.35 percent).

26. Bills, $150.59 million (90.15 percent).

27. Ravens, $149.28 million (89.39 percent).

28. Texans, $144.04 million (86.25 percent).

29. Colts, $143.41 million (85.88 percent).

30. Jets, $143.08 million (85.68 percent).

31. Chiefs, $141.99 million (85.02 percent).

32. Cowboys, $115.657 million (69.26 percent).