The Friday afternoon deadline for getting deals done with franchise-tagged players is approaching fast, but most inside the NFL still believe Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and the Denver Broncos will come together on a new extension.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports gave Miller a “95 percent” chance of finishing up a new deal.
“Most execs and agents I speak to would be very surprised if this doesn’t get done, and I’m with them,” La Canfora wrote Tuesday. “As much as agents blanch at Denver’s tactics at times, the truth is (John) Elway has proven to be a dealmaker and some ruffled feathers can’t be enough to keep this from getting done.”
Miller and the Broncos have tussled over a new deal for months, with the two sides coming close to an agreement in early June. Miller’s camp turned down Denver’s $114.5 million offer over the lack of guaranteed money involved.
Miller, 27, has said he won’t play the 2016 season on the franchise tag, which is worth over $14 million for one year. He could skip the season and become a free agent again next spring.
Deadlines always spur action.
The Broncos have played contractual hardball with Miller, but neither side is going to risk a complete catastrophe—in the form of Miller sitting out the 2016 season—over a few million in guarantees. Denver needs Miller too much, especially with so much change happening at the quarterback position.
A summer of back and forth between the two sides will finally end this week, likely with Miller getting the huge extension he’s earned and the Broncos welcoming back their dominant pass-rusher.
