Tag: pass rusher

2 Broncos among highest performance-based pay earners

Broncos G Quinn Meinerz ($747,505) and OLB Jonathon Cooper ($940,000) received some of the largest performance-based pay bonuses in the NFL.

Denver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz and outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper were among the top 25 earners in 2023 as part of the NFL’s performance-based pay program.

“The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels,” according to the NFL. Put simply, the program rewards players on low salaries who play significant snaps.

Meinerz and Cooper are still on team-friendly rookie contracts and they both started all 17 games last season. Meinerz received $747,505 in performance-based pay, a nice increase from his $1,095,078 salary last season.

Cooper received $738,916 in performance-based pay, which is not far away from his $940,000 base salary in 2023. The two players were rewarded for essentially outperforming their contracts.

Meinerz and Cooper weren’t the only Broncos players who received performance-based pay for the 2023 season.

The following players also got a boost to their salaries, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis: cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian ($625,000), cornerback Fabian Moreau ($526,000), defensive lineman Jonathan Harris ($485,000), safety Delarrin Turner-Yell ($387,000), cornerback Damarri Mathis ($376,000), tight end Adam Trautman ($368,000), center Lloyd Cushenberry ($357,000), linebacker Drew Sanders ($356), safety P.J. Locke Locke ($343,000), wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey ($342,000) and fullback Mike Burton ($339,000) also received performance-based bonuses.

View the full list of Denver’s bonuses on 9News.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos select OLB Jared Verse in 2024 NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Broncos selecting FSU pass rusher Jared Verse in his latest 2024 NFL mock draft.

In his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Denver Broncos selecting FSU pass rusher Jared Verse. Reid believes that if the top four quarterbacks are off the board, Verse would be the ideal pick. 

“The Broncos have holes throughout the roster, and if the top four quarterbacks are already off the board, the next-best option has to be adding an edge rusher,” Reid wrote on ESPN.com.

J.J. McCarthy (No. 11), Jayden Daniels (No. 3), Drake May (No. 2), and Caleb Williams (No. 1) were picked before Denver went on the clock with pick No. 12. If the Broncos draft Verse, he would join an already talented defense.

Verse spent three years at Albany before transferring to Florida State, recording 38.5 tackles for loss and 31.5 sacks, 18 of which came in his last two years at FSU. Verse has all the intangibles to be a first-round draft pick in April.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Available free agent pass rushers for the Broncos in 2024

The Broncos need more from their pass rush in 2024. Here are some edge defenders they could target during free agency.

The Denver Broncos need to get more from their pass rush in 2024. Jonathon Cooper led the team with 8.5 sacks last season, followed by Nik Bonitto (8.0 sacks). Those are fine numbers for rotational players, but Denver needs an elite edge defender.

Baron Browning has the potential to emerge as a top pass rusher in 2024, but injuries have prevented him from having a breakout season thus far. The Broncos will likely look to add reinforcements to the outside linebacker room this spring, so we’ve put together a quick list of 16 pass rushers the team could consider during NFL free agency next week.

Von Miller agrees to huge pay cut with Bills

After accepting a big pay cut, Von Miller is set to remain in Buffalo for at least one more season.

The Denver Broncos aren’t the only NFL team in a salary cap pinch this offseason.

The Buffalo Bills are also in a hole and they started climbing out of it with a flurry of moves on Wednesday. One of those moves was getting pass rusher Von Miller to agree to a significant pay cut.

Miller was set to earn $17.145 million in 2024. After agreeing to restructure his contract, he’ll now earn $8.855 million, ESPN’s Field Yates first reported.

Miller’s base salary dropped all the way down to $1.5 million, but he was given a $7 million signing bonus, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That lowered his total salary cap hit from about $23.78 million down to $15.13 million in 2024.

The pay cut gives the Bills more cap space and Miller will have the chance to earn up to $20 million if he maxes out incentives, according to Yates.

Miller will turn 35 later this month. After this season, Buffalo could save $5 million if they cut Miller in 2025. If his production does not increase (Miller had no sacks last year), this fall might be Miller’s final season with the Bills.

Fans in Denver would undoubtedly like to see the two-time Super Bowl champion finish his career with the Broncos. After adjusting his contract, though, Miller is poised to remain in Buffalo for at least one more season.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos met with OLB Jared Verse at the NFL combine

Jared Verse is considered one of the top pass rushers in the NFL draft and he might be available when the Broncos pick at No. 12 in April.

The Denver Broncos met with FSU’s Jared Verse at the NFL combine last week, the pass rusher confirmed during his media availability on Feb. 28.

Verse (6-4, 254 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 31 times at the combine. He was a defensive lineman for the Seminoles, but Verse would likely transition to outside linebacker if picked by a team that runs a 3-4 defense like the Broncos.

Verse played one year at Albany (FCS) before transferring to FSU ahead of his sophomore season. In two years (25 games) with the Seminoles, Verse totaled 89 tackles (29.5 behind the line of scrimmage), 18 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Before the combine, Draft Wire did not have Verse ranked among the top five pass rushers in this year’s class, but that will likely change when the rankings are updated. Verse could be an option for Denver at No. 12 overall.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. The Broncos currently hold six picks, but they could acquire more through trades.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos met with OLB Mohamed Kamara at the NFL combine

Mohamed Kamara ran a 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds at the NFL combine last week.

Colorado State pass rusher Mohamed Kamara revealed at the NFL combine last week that he met with the Denver Broncos at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The Broncos did not get enough production from their outside linebackers in 2023 and they are now looking to add some reinforcements.

Kamara was named as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl. A sixth-year senior, Kamara played in 49 games with the Rams, starting 33 of them.

Thursday was the day for linebackers and defensive linemen to work out, and Kamara definitely raised significant interest with his performances. Kamara ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, which was the second-fastest time of the day behind only Penn State’s Chop Robinson (4.48). Kamara also had a 10-yard split of 1.58 seconds, a 34.5-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.

The Broncos are no strangers to bringing homegrown talent to the team, with products such as Philip Lindsay (University of Colorado) and Jordan Jackson (Air Force) joining the club in recent offseasons.

Denver holds six picks, including 12th overall in the first round. The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos met with OLB Chris Braswell at the NFL combine

Broncos draft prospect Chris Braswell totaled eight sacks at Alabama last season.

As the Denver Broncos prepare for the 2024 NFL draft, the team continues to meet with promising collegiate players. One of the players they met with was Alabama’s Chris Braswell, the linebacker confirmed during his media availability at the NFL combine last week.

In recent years, the Broncos have become enamored with players from the Crimson Tide, including cornerback Patrick Surtain and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy,

At Alabama, Braswell had 75 total tackles, 10.5 sacks and one interception in his three-year career.

Braswell is projected to be an eventual starter from his NFL combine profile. This means that Braswell may likely be a Day 2 or Day 3 pick. On Thursday, Braswell participated in several events in the combine, including the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump. Braswell ran a 4.6-second 40 and had a 33.5-inch vertical, and a 9-foot, 7-inch broad jump.

The Broncos are hoping to upgrade their pass-rush, which only totaled 42 sacks in 2023 (opponents totaled 52 sacks against the Broncos’ offense).

Denver holds six picks, including 12th overall in the first round. The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

10 positions of need for the Broncos in 2024

Here is our list of 10 positions the Broncos should address this offseason.

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton are about to have a busy offseason.

The Broncos are projected to be about $24 million over the salary cap and the team only holds six picks to use in the 2024 NFL draft. Those circumstances could make it difficult for Denver to improve a roster that has plenty of holes going into Payton’s second season.

The Broncos will likely acquire a few more draft picks via trades this spring, and the team can also cut select players and make contract adjustments to create more cap space. It will be a big task, but Denver can add draft capital and create enough cap space to make some key moves this offseason.

So, once the Broncos have the resources required to add players, what positions should Denver target? We’ve put together a list of ten team needs, five on offense and five on defense. Between free agency the draft, the Broncos should address these positions this offseason.

Broncos’ sack leaders from 2023 season

Jonathon Cooper (8.5) led the Broncos in sacks in 2023, followed by Nik Bonitto (8.0) and Zach Allen (5.0).

The days of Von Miller recording double-digit sacks seem like a distant memory for Denver Broncos fans.

The Broncos are going to need more from their pass rush in 2024 after an underwhelming campaign from Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto last fall.

In terms of sacks, Denver’s third-best pass rusher this season was Zach Allen, an interior defensive lineman who recorded five sacks in 2023. That’s a good total for a defensive tackle, but the fact that the Broncos did not have a third edge defender with five or more sacks is alarming.

Consequently, bringing in a top pass rusher should be a priority for Denver this offseason. Before free agency and the draft arrive, here’s a quick look back at the Broncos’ leaders in sacks from the 2023 season.

Broncos select pass rusher Dallas Turner in 2024 NFL mock draft

The Broncos select pass rusher Dallas Turner in Draft Wire’s recent 2024 NFL mock draft. Smart pick?

With the Super Bowl coming up soon, the NFL offseason is approaching. It also means that the NFL draft is coming, and here comes the NFL mock drafts. For the Denver Broncos, who should they draft in the first round for the 2024 NFL draft?

If you let the Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy tell it, the Broncos should have their eye on a specific Alabama Crimson Tide defensive player. Dallas Turner, the talented pass rusher who enjoyed a solid season this past year, is who Draft Wire believes the Broncos should target at No. 12 overall. Their reason?

“We almost went with a quarterback here but edge rusher Dallas Turner is our top-rated player on the board and fills a definite need,” Popejoy wrote on Draft Wire.

Turner totaled 53 tackles and 10 sacks for the Crimson Tide last year. With how the Broncos attack offenses with their defensive personnel, Turner may be a good fit and building block for Denver to build off of.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]