The Denver Broncos continue to makes deals into April as they have reportedly let another longtime Bronco depart and with him goes an enormous, handcuffing contract.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the New York Jets have acquired offensive tackle and eight-year Bronco Ryan Clady as well as a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for the a fifth-round draft pick.
Clady was due $10.1 million dollars in 2016, part of his five-year $52.5 million contract through 2017. The move frees up a large amount of cap space for the Broncos to continue to look for another quarterback to add to the roster. Two recent offensive tackle signings also makes his departure both expected and less impactful.
On Friday, the Jets lost their left tackle, All-Pro D’Brickashaw Ferguson to retirement. He has missed just one snap in his ten-year career and suddenly called it a career. Clady has been voted to four Pro Bowls but has also been lost to injury for almost the entirety of two seasons in his eight-year career. The Broncos seemed to have been just looking for the right suitor to relieve themselves of Clady’s remaining contract and Ferguson’s retirement on Friday provided that.
Denver has recently added two tackles to take Clady’s place after reported negotiations to give him a pay cut, at least in 2016, failed to materialize. Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung signed a very front-office friendly contract of $4 million base salary and a $1 million workout bonus in 2016 according to Spotrac. Tackle Donald Stephenson will likely be the favorite to play the right tackle for the Broncos as he signed a three-year $14 million deal March 9.
The Broncos were extremely hamstringed by their cap space as free agency began this offseason. Clady’s contract, following his absence from the entire 2015-16 season, was the biggest source to dump or renegotiate dollars. The trade to the Jets will now allow the Broncos to continue to explore several quarterback options including Colin Kaepernick and Josh McCown while also possibly adding other pieces to the roster.
