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Moments after we published our story that free-agent pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware may move quickly to sign with the Denver Broncos, he did.
Ware is coming to Denver.
Filed to ESPN: Pending a physical, former Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware reached agreement with Broncos on 3-year, $30M contract include $20M gtd.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2014
Ware's three-year deal is worth $20 million guaranteed with an average salary of $10 million per year. The contract, of course, is pending a physical, but Ware is expected to pass it.
It sounds as if Ware's deal will pay him $13 million this season and $7 million in 2015. Both of those figures are guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Consequently, Denver really signed Ware to a two-year, $20 million deal with the option of bringing him back for a third season at $10 million or cutting him without a cap penalty after two seasons.
Elway Wins Free Agency
Teaming Ware up with Von Miller in Denver, the Broncos have just given the NFL 152 reasons to fear Denver's defense as well as their offense going into 2014. Ware is Dallas' all-time sack leader with 117 career sacks; Miller has recorded 35 sacks in his first three seasons in the NFL.
Ware is the third defensive Pro Bowler to have joined the Broncos within the last 24 hours, joining safety T.J. Ward and cornerback Aqib Talib, both of whom signed with Denver on Tuesday. Clearly, Denver's goal was to address the defensive side of the ball in free agency.
After Ware landed his luscious contract, the Broncos may now be left with as little as $4 million in cap space, which will likely be eaten up by drafted rookies next month. If the Broncos want to create more cap space, they'll have to part ways with several players (tight ends Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen are prime candidates).
Back to the combination of Miller and Wolfe—the Broncos are expected to have Miller continue rushing from the left side and Ware from the right, playing across from Derek Wolfe at defensive end. With Ware teaming up with Wolfe on the defensive line, folks have already begun coining the term "WareWolfe."
Reactions to the signing have been mixed—many believe Denver overpaid for Ware's services. Others, including many Broncos players on Twitter, are excited about the move.
One thing is certain: John Elway has the Broncos in win-now mode. Look out, NFL.
