Broncos general manager John Elway has been using trades to maximize Denver’s salary cap space for the 2020 season.
Last year, Elway traded wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and a fifth-round draft pick to the 49ers in exchange for fourth- and third-round picks. Earlier this month, Elway agreed to trade the fourth-round pick he acquired from San Francisco to the Jaguars in exchange for cornerback A.J. Bouye.
That was a shrewd financial decision.
By trading for Bouye, the Broncos inherited the cornerback’s reasonable salary cap charges, about $13.5 million in each of the next two seasons. Jacksonville is eating the contract’s dead money so if Denver cut Bouye tomorrow, the Broncos wouldn’t have to take a cap hit to do so.
Elway essentially traded Sanders and a fifth-round pick in exchange for Bouye’s team-friendly contract and he got an extra third-round pick out of the deal as well. It’s a low-risk move because Bouye’s contract does not have any guaranteed money coming from Denver.
Compare that to the massive contract coveted free agent cornerback Byron Jones received from the Dolphins: five years, $82.5 million with $54.375 million guaranteed. Jones will earn an average of $16.5 million per season and Miami would take a massive dead money cap hit if they have to cut him.
Sure, Jones might have a higher ceiling, but he costs an average of $3 million per year and the Dolphins can’t easily get out of his contract if they need to. The Broncos got a cheaper cornerback and if it doesn’t work out, they can cut Bouye with no dead money and be left with an extra third-round draft pick.
That’s pretty good roster management by Elway.
[lawrence-related id=635084]
[vertical-gallery id=635135]