Broncos should trade Shane Ray immediately

The Denver Broncos won’t be picking up the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Shane Ray. So can the team get a good deal if they opt to trade him?

It’s always good to strike while the iron is hot. And while Denver Broncos’ three-year outside linebacker Shane Ray is more a smoldering ember than a bonfire these days, another team could benefit from his skills provided it’s the right situation.

First things first. Today is the day that teams have to decide on whether the players that they selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft will have their fifth-year options picked up. We have seen a slew of yes’s to date but here was the news when it came to the Denver Broncos and the 23rd-overall selection three years ago.

A rookie of the team that won Super Bowl 50, the former University of Missouri standout played in 30 regular-season games in his first two seasons and collected a combined 12 sacks. This past season, Ray was limited to eight contests and did make seven starts. But there were just 16 tackles and one QB sack.

But let’s not bury the lead here. Head honcho John Elway used the fifth-overall pick in last week’s draft to secure the services of promising pass-rusher Bradley Chubb. It makes the decision to let Ray play out his final season with the club a lot easier. That is, unless the Broncos can make a deal sooner than later that would prove beneficial to the club.

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Ray is a very talented player who could help any number of teams, especially those specializing in the 3-4 scheme. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound performer could provide a boost to teams like the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, both who struggled to get to opposing quarterback this past season for numerous reasons.