Before right tackle Ja’Wuan James opted out of the 2020 season, Spotrac.com estimated that the Broncos had about $16.3 million in salary cap space. Denver will get some cap relief from James’ contract this year but most of it will be tolled and added to the team’s 2021 cap hit.
James was supposed to have a base salary of $10 million this season and prorated signing bonus cap hit of $3 million (a total cap hit of $13 million). By opting out of 2020, James will simply be bumping this year’s salary and prorated bonus to 2021, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.
The Broncos will have $13 million added to their 2020 salary cap total but the team will have to account for that $13 million cap hit in 2021. If he is not deemed a “higher risk” opt-out, James will receive a $150,0000 advance toward his 2021 base salary. So his exact cap hit will be $12.85 million next season.
After adding that $13 million to the $16.3 million Denver already had, the Broncos have about $29.3 million in available salary cap space. Denver will probably want to roll over as much cap space as possible into 2021, though, so don’t expect the Broncos to go on a spending binge.
Here are nine free agent tackles Denver should consider signing.
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