Brandon Marshall’s salary becomes fully guaranteed; Broncos’ starting ILB duo remains intact By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post March 19, 2018 Although the Broncos had some discussions about making a move at inside linebacker this offseason, their starting duo of Todd Davis and Brandon Marshall will return. Last week the team re-signed Davis to a three-year, $15 million contract that includes $6 million in guarantees. And on Sunday, Marshall’s $5 million salary for 2018 became fully guaranteed, ensuring he will be back, as well. Even though Marshall signed a four-year extension in 2016, there was some question of whether he would return this year as general manager John Elway retooled the roster. In addition to re-signing Davis, the Broncos offered backup Corey Nelson a one-year, $2.25 million offer to return, but Nelson took the same money in Philadelphia. Had Nelson stayed, however, the Broncos would have been facing a hefty price tag to keep their inside linebacker group intact. But when Marshall wasn’t moved in the first wave of free agency, it became clear he wasn’t going anywhere. Including his prorated signing bonus, he has a salary cap charge of $7 million for 2018 and has two other option years remaining on the deal, carrying base salaries of $6.5 million and $7 million, respectively. The $4.5 million salary of safety Darian Stewart also became fully guaranteed Sunday. Though the Broncos engaged in trade discussions for Washington’s Su’a Cravens, there wasn’t much talk of moving on from Stewart, according to an NFL source. Stewart, who signed a four-year, $28 million deal in 2016, has a cap charge of $5.9 million this year. Linebacker Von Miller, whose contract was restructured to lower his 2018 cap hit, had $9 million of his $17 million salary for 2019 become fully guaranteed as well; wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders had $6.9 million of his $8.15 million salary became fully guaranteed; and the full 2018 salaries of offensive tackle Menelik Watson ($5.5 million) and kicker Brandon McManus ($2.25 million) became fully guaranteed Sunday too. The next major contract deadline for the Broncos is April 20, the last day for linebacker Shaquil Barrett and center Matt Paradis to sign their restricted free-agent tenders. The team placed second-round tenders on both ($2.914 million apiece). If they sign offer sheets elsewhere, the Broncos have five days to match or let them go in exchange for a second-round draft pick. Before May 3, the Broncos must decide if they will exercise the fifth-year contract option for linebacker Shane Ray. The options are guaranteed for injury only but become fully guaranteed the first day of the 2019 season. As the No. 23 pick in the 2015 draft, Ray’s fifth-year salary, if exercised, would be close to $8.8 million. Same number, different player. Cornerback Tramaine Brock, who was signed by the Broncos after they shipped Aqib Talib to the Los Angeles Rams, will wear the same jersey number as his predecessor: No. 21. Brock will be Denver’s third corner, behind Bradley Roby and Chris Harris. Broncos Mailbag: Keenum starting to win over Broncos Country By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 19, 2018 I have never been less excited about acquiring a player than I was when the Broncos signed Case Keenum. However, after the past 48 hours I couldn't be more excited. The mix of hearing about Cousins' silly fully-guaranteed contract, reading Keenum's quotes from the press conference, and seeing his picture as a kid with that Elway jersey on, I couldn't be more excited to rally behind him!!! I can't wait for #7 and #4 to say, "This One's for Gary" while jointly hoisting up the Lombardi trophy next year! --Art Mensing, San Antonio Art — Kirk Cousins hit free agency at a perfect time – a few months before he turned 30 and coming off three consecutive stellar statistical seasons – so he earned his audacity. Most of these big deals are virtually guaranteed for three years, anyway, so while it was a legitimate record contract, it wasn’t like it soared to another hemisphere. Broncos general manager John Elway called several people who had worked for the Washington NFL team, and been around Cousins. He had Gary Kubiak to vouch for Keenum. Come Monday morning, March 12, Elway had his contract guy, Mike Sullivan, call Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney. After determining the Broncos were a longshot in the derby that included Minnesota, Arizona and the New York Jets as competitors, Elway bailed on Cousins without even making an offer and turned quickly to Keenum. Although almost everyone believes Cousins has more “franchise” quality skills than Keenum, you do have to wonder why Cousins has only been a .500 quarterback and Keenum was 11-3 last year. Keenum moves better. He’s savvy. He protects the ball. He may not be a top-10 quarterback in terms of physical talent. He wasn’t drafted in part because he measured only 72.63 inches tall (or closer to 6-foot, ½ inch, than 6-1) and because he was older than most at 24 years old after he had two redshirt years at the University of Houston. But he’s figured it out. I think he has a chance to become the next Jeff Garcia. Also listed at 6-1, Garcia struggled as a 29-year-old rookie with San Francisco in 1999, then made three consecutive Pro Bowls at 30, 31 and 32 years old. Now that the Broncos got Keenum, what do you think the odds of them keeping the 5th pick and taking a quarterback like Josh Rosen or Baker Mayfield? Also, what do you think they are going to do with the rest of the money they have left? I was hoping they would get Nate Solder and move Garett Bolles to right tackle but obviously that didn’t happen. Otherwise, maybe they go out and get a different tackle or a solid 3rd receiver. --Tanner Feith Tanner -- The details of Keenum’s contract says the Broncos would be wasting their No. 5 overall pick if they took a quarterback. Keenum is making a full-guaranteed $18 million this year and then $7 million of his $18 million salary in 2019 is fully guaranteed. That means the Broncos are counting on Keenum to be their starting quarterback for the next two seasons. I don’t think the Broncos should use their No. 5 pick on someone who will sit for two years. BUT. But. John Elway is not a predictable general manager. I can see him trading back to No. 11 (Miami), No. 12 (Buffalo) or 15 (Arizona) and taking Baker Mayfield if he falls and picking up position players with the extra second-round picks he would get in such a deal.He could then use one of those second-round picks and trade back into the first round. I could also see him trading up from No. 5 to get Penn State running back Saquon Barkley or perhaps Darnold or Allen. As for Solder, the Buena Vista native was never an option because the Broncos want to keep Bolles at left tackle and they didn’t want to pay $15 million a year for an offensive tackle. Problem is, the Broncos needed a Solder-caliber tackle. They better get an interior defensive lineman who can push the pocket – either a tackle or 3-4 end. They do need a No. 3 receiver, as you astutely pointed out, Tanner, but that may be a draft pick. They need a veteran tight end. Yes, the Broncos have 11 draft picks. But there are no veteran tight ends in the draft. I'm somewhat puzzled. If Case is that good, why did the Vikings dump him? --Patrick Spieles Patrick – Ding! Ding! Ding! In defense of Keenum, you could ask that question of every free agent in the still relatively short (25 years) history of NFL free agency. Even Peyton Manning had major neck and arm strength issues in 2012. Keenum led the Vikings to the NFC Championship and yet team management determined he wasn’t good enough to win the final two games on an NFL schedule. Money was a factor. The Vikings loved Keenum when he was making $2 million last year. Do you love him as it appeared he would make $18 million a year, which is indeed what he got from the Broncos? No. 5. Judging by your posts, I am guessing you do not think they are going QB. I would take Quenton Nelson or Saquan Barkley if he falls to them. I would be interested in Bradley Chubb, but I am not sure he is made for a 3-4? Broncos have all this cap room and have done nothing in free agency. Kind of head-scratching. --Jon Cornbleet Jon – At 6-foot-4, 269 pounds, Chubb is a tad small for defensive end, tad large for outside linebacker/edge rusher. He ran a ridiculous 4.65 in the 40 at the combine – where times were slower than Pro Days – so he can carry that weight on the edge. Ordinarily, when a team picks as high as No. 5 for the first time in seven years, it should take a quarterback. The guaranteed structure of Keenum’s contract, though, and the fact Paxton Lynch, a first- round draft pick two years ago, is the backup, strongly suggests the Broncos must go non-QB player at No.