When the Denver Broncos acquired running back Chase Edmonds from the Miami Dolphins in the Bradley Chubb trade last season, the club also inherited Edmonds’ remaining contract.
The Dolphins paid part of Edmonds’ contract last year, so his 2022 salary cap hit for the Broncos was minimal (about $1.11 million). This year, the running back is set to see his base salary jump up to $5.66 million, which would give him the 12th-highest cap hit among running backs next season.
Edmonds showed signs of promise in Denver last fall, and new coach Sean Payton could use a receiving back for his offense, but the Broncos are unlikely to make a rotational RB one of the top-paid players at his position.
So if Edmonds wants to stick around, he will likely have to restructure his contract this offseason. When players met the media at the end of the 2022 season, Edmonds seemed open to reworking his contract to stay with the team.
“I’m looking at it realistically,” Edmonds said, via Parker Garbiel of The Denver Post. “They’re probably going to ask me to restructure. I love the guys in the locker room. Love playing with Russ. … Just has to make sense for both sides.”
Meanwhile, Payton recently praised fellow running back Latavius Murray, which might be a hint that Murray could be re-signed this spring.
With Javonte Williams facing an uncertain recovery timeline, the Broncos will undoubtedly add several running backs to the roster this season. Edmonds and Murray will be among the in-house options, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver draft a running back.
In addition to Murray, Marlon Mack and Mike Boone are also scheduled to become free agents in March.
Tyler Badie is also under contract for the 2023 season. He impressed in his NFL debut in the team’s season finale last month.
Denver will have a lot of RB decisions to make this offseason.
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