1. CB/S Kareem Jackson
Jackson played every defensive snap for the Broncos last season, with 89 total tackles, one interception and two fumble recoveries. He continues to be graded well by Pro Football Focus.
Broncos had three members of their secondary in @PFF Top 101 players of 2020:
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) February 9, 2021
Bryce Callahan (61)
Kareem Jackson (87)
Justin Simmons (99)
Kareem Jackson earned the fifth-highest grade among cornerbacks this past season. pic.twitter.com/wabogHtzrE
— PFF (@PFF) January 31, 2019
But, the Broncos have a decision to make on Jackson. On March 16, a $1.5 million option guarantee on his $10 million 2021 salary comes due. Then there’s this, from the well plugged-in Mike Klis of 9 News.
Per sources, Broncos GM George Paton has yet to reach out to reps of Von Miller($7m guarantee) /Kareem Jackson ($1.5M g) to discuss their team options.
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) February 17, 2021
This indicates Paton has yet to make final determination on multiple ways he can go regarding these players' options. #9sports
So there’s a sense Broncos general manager George Paton is taking his time on some major decisions. Jackson is a good player, who takes on greater importance in a vacuum after Bouye was cut. But he’ll also be 33 in April, and the Broncos will have the secondary on their radar in the draft (perhaps as early as the No. 9 pick). A $12.88 million cap hit might be a little outsized too, and the Broncos can clear $10 million ($2.88 million in dead money) if they move on.
Picking up the option right before the start of the league year would not prevent the Broncos from deciding to cut Jackson in the days that follow, given how small it is, though it would be a cleaner cut to not. Expect them to indeed pick it up, with a decision to cut him an unlikely but non-zero percent possibility after.