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Denver Broncos Contracts: Defense 2013-2015

While doing the roster prep for the draft, I noticed a disturbing trend. The Broncos are gonna face a lot of expiring contracts the next couple of seasons. I'm going to take a look at each player to see who's contract comes up when. Hopefully we get a better understanding on what the Broncos might attempt to do and also be better prepared to face the situation as a fanbase.

Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

I'm going to use some specific language in these charts, here is an explanation:

Signed: Will have more years on the contract after that year

Contract Year: Final year of current contract

UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent, means the player is free to test the market

RFA: Means that any team can tender an offer, but the Broncos have the right to match OR the signing team must pony up some draft picks.

ERFA: Exclusive Rights Free Agent, The Player may be tendered a salary at the vet minimum for their position. Only the Broncos can negotiate.

Franchise Tag: Means that player is with the Broncos for that year, his contract once signed becomes fully guaranteed.

Below is a chart for both the defensive starters and backups

Defense-Starters

Player

POS

2013 status

2014 status

2015 status

Derek Wolfe

LDE

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

Kevin Vickerson

DT

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Terrance Knighton

DT

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Robert Ayers

RDE

Contract Year

UFA

---

Von Miller

Sam

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Nate Irving

Mike

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Wesley Woodyard

Will

Contract Year

UFA

---

Champ Bailey

CB

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Rodgers-Cromartie

CB

Contract Year

UFA

---

Chris Harris

CB

Contract Year

RFA

---

Mike Adams

S

Contract Year

UFA

---

Rahim Moore

S

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Quinton Carter

S

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

2013

Ayers, Woodyard, DRC, Harris and Adams are all in their contract years. Woodyard and Harris are in line for big raises. Ayers and DRC will depend with output, and Adams should be a goner.

2014

Ayers, Woodyard, DRC, and Adams all become UFA. Chris Harris becomes a RFA.

Vickerson, Knighton, Miller, Irving, Bailey, Moore and Carter are in their contract years.

2015

Vickerson, Knighton, Miller, Irving, Bailey, Moore and Carter all become UFA. Miller will demand a big payday. Bailey will take a big cut to come back (if he's still productive). The remaining players will carve up their own contract worth by what they do on the field the next couple of years.

Overall

11/13 starters will become UFA between now and 2015

Defense-Backups

Player

POS

2013 status

2014 status

2015 status

Malik Jackson

DE

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

Jeremy Beal

DE

Contract Year

ERFA

---

Sealver Siliga

DT

Contract Year

ERFA

---

Mitch Unrein

DT

Contract Year

RFA

---

Stewart Bradley

LB

Contract Year

UFA

---

Steven Johnson

LB

Signed

Contract Year

RFA

Joe Mays

LB

Signed

Contract Year

UFA

Danny Trevathan

LB

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

Omar Bolden

CB

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

David Bruton

S

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

2013

Beal, Siliga, Unrein, and Bradley are all in their contract years. None of these guys will garner big pay days.

2014

Beal and Siliga become ERFA, Unrein becomes a RFA, Bradley becomes a UFA

Steven Johnson and Joe Mays are in their contract years.

2015

Mays becomes a UFA, Johnson a RFA

Jackson, Trevathan, Bolden, and Bruton enter their contract years

Overall

2 out of 10 players will become UFA during this time. There are many more ERFA and RFA--Shows you how the Broncos have used UDFA to build quality depth on their team. Keep this in mind going forward.

Breaking it down by position group here are the totals expected to become UFA between now and 2015:

D-line: 3/8 (Ayers, Vickerson, Knighton)

LB: 6/7 (everyone except Danny Trevathan)

DB: 5/8 (Champ, DRC, Moore, Adams, Carter)

Total: 13/23 or about 61% of the starters and backups on defense will become UFA between now and 2015.

The most important ones to resign will be Wesley Woodyard, Von Miller, and Chris Harris.

Here's a reminder about the offense: In total, 19/24 or 79% of the offensive starters will become UFA between now and 2015

Specialists

Player

POS

2013 status

2014 status

2015 status

Britton Colquitt

P

Contract Year

UFA

---

Matt Prater

K

Signed

Signed

Contract Year

Aaron Brewer

LS

Signed

Contract Year

RFA

Only Colquitt becomes a UFA between now and 2015, no worries here (bring in competition for Prater).

Entire Roster

Of the 50 players I profiled on the roster, 33 or (66%) of them will become UFA between now and 2015.

Be afraid Broncos Country, be very afraid...MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA