2016 NFL free agency: Who will Malik Jackson sign with?
Where will Malik Jackson sign in 2016 NFL free agency?
Let’s be honest. There’s absolutely no way the Denver Broncos let Super Bowl MVP Von Miller leave in free agency this summer. Even if it means making Miller the highest-paid defensive player in the league (a very real possibility), the Denver leadership must recognize that Miller is the single most important player on their roster, especially now that the Peyton Manning era looks to be over.
So assuming they do what it takes to make Miller happy, their first real question mark in free agency comes in the form of standout defensive end Malik Jackson. Football fans outside of Colorado will remember Jackson as the player who called Tom Brady a “whiner” prone to throwing “temper tantrums,” but who then backed up his words by making life miserable for the Patriots quarterback in the AFC Championship Game.
You may also recall Jackson wreaking havoc on poor Cam Newton in Super Bowl 50; while Miller was responsible for forcing a first quarter fumble, it was Jackson who fell on it in the end zone to give Denver an early lead they’d never surrender.
Vitals
Age: 26
Notable stat: At least 40 tackles in three straight seasons
Pro Bowls: 0
All-Pro Teams: 0
Contract comparison
If Jackson wants to know what he’s worth to the team, he really doesn’t have to look any further than inside his own locker room – No. 97 should consult No. 95 for contract advice.
Derek Wolfe also plays defensive end for the Broncos, and like Jackson, just completed his fourth year in the league. While his career sack and tackle numbers over that time slightly edge Jackson’s, he’s not nearly as durable, having missed nine games total compared to Jackson’s two. Of course, the other way of looking at that statistic is that Wolfe has done more than Jackson has in less time on the field, so take these numbers for what they’re worth.
Wolfe was gifted a four-year contract extension with the team worth north of $36 million before the Super Bowl, so Jackson can expect to collect something similar, be it from the Broncos or someone else. Considering the major expected spike in this year’s salary cap, Jackson could be in store for an even juicier deal than Wolfe received, especially if he leaves town.
Estimate: 5 years/$50 million/$28 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
Only if John Elway, Gary Kubiak, and the Bowlen family trust hire the very best money managers in the land this summer. They’ll sure need them with 26 players set to hit free agency, 17 of which are unrestricted. Getting Peyton Manning, Vernon Davis, and at least one of their costly offensive linemen off the books will help, but it’s still going to be a penny-pinching offseason for a team that finds itself with little cap space to maneuver.
Such is life for defending champions in the NFL. Jackson will be a high priority for the Broncos in free agency, perhaps second only to Miller, but the team shouldn’t break the bank to retain him if that’s what it comes to.
If he leaves…
Like any free agent from a team that just won a Super Bowl (especially from that defense), Jackson should be in high demand this summer. Any number of teams would be happy to have him, but somewhat surprisingly, I think the team he just faced in the last game of 2015 could be first in line.
The Carolina Panthers are one of the most complete teams in football, and should be heavily favored to contend for next year’s title. If the NFC champions have a weakness, though, it’s at defensive end, where Jared Allen has already retired and Charles Johnson might not be far behind. The Panthers need a youth movement at pass rusher to complement their top-flight linebackers and secondary; Jackson might be just what the doctor ordered.
Sticking with NFC defensive powerhouses that need to address one area of weakness, the Arizona Cardinals come to mind as another dark-horse candidate to land Jackson in free agency. Like the Panthers, the Cards are terrific on the back end of their defense but lack a true difference-maker off the edge. Dwight Freeney has had a storied career, but he’s closer to 40 now than he is to 30.
At 26, Jackson is just beginning to enter his prime, and he would be a natural fit in head coach Bruce Arians’ scheme.