If Super Bowl MVP Von Miller gets his way, he will become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. After Miller’s latest offer from the Denver Broncos, he’s well on his way to doing so.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos offered the four-time Pro Bowler a six-year deal worth $114.5 million with almost $40 million guaranteed. However, negotiations have reportedly ended between the two sides with no agreement in sight according to ESPN.com.
Broncos proposed 6-yr, $114.5M deal to Von Miller that includes $39.8M gtd in first 2 years, per sources close to Denver. No deal in sight.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2016
A deal this massive would give Miller a higher average salary ($19.08 million per year) than any other defensive player in the league, just edging out Miami Dolphins star Ndamukong Suh, who is making an average of $19.06 million per year under his deal.
The issue, however, is likely regarding the guaranteed money in play. In theory, Miller could make over $19 million a year, but in the NFL, anything can happen. If Miller were to sign this deal that Denver offered, the guaranteed money would be less than what 12 other defensive players have been guaranteed in their contracts, including the likes of Darrelle Revis ($39 million), Josh Norman ($50 million), Olivier Vernon ($52.5 million) and Marcell Dareus ($60 million).
The percent of guaranteed money on that list ranges from as high as 72 percent to as low as 49 percent. For Miller, his deal would include less than 35% guaranteed money.
Miller is right to reject the current offer from Denver. After all, since coming into the league in 2011, the former No. 2 overall pick has had 60 sacks, the second-most in the league behind J.J. Watt (74.5 sacks) while playing in eight fewer games. Miller is also coming off one of the best stretches the league has ever seen from a pass-rusher in the postseason, logging five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in the playoffs.
It’s not like the Broncos are struggling with cap space, either. According to Over the Cap, the Broncos have almost $6 million in cap space for the 2016 season assuming Miller signs the franchise tag for just over $14 million. They’ll have even more cap space in the coming seasons, with a projected $65.3 million free in 2017 and $84.8 million in 2018.
The two sides have until July 15 to work out a deal before the franchise tag is placed on Miller, which could lead to a potential holdout. As Denver’s designated franchise player, no other teams can negotiate with Miller.
Despite the recent snag, there’s no reason to believe that the two sides won’t close a deal before the 2016 season begins to make Miller the highest-paid defensive player ever. The 27-year-old has consistently been one of the most dominant players in the league since being drafted, and the Broncos will need their defensive unit back in full force if they hope to return to the Super Bowl in February.