How Broncos' Cash Commitments at CB Impact 2023 Outlook

The Denver Broncos have made the majority of their offseason moves, some more recent as they fine-tune the roster before training camp begins.

Thus, we have a better idea of how much the Broncos will commit in terms of money toward the roster going into 2023. We can also get a better idea of the monetary commitment in 2024, given who is currently under contract with the team in 2024.

In the coming weeks, I'll review each positional group and look at the money that's currently being committed to the biggest names in 2023, what can be expected for 2024, and what changes could potentially happen, all of which affect the money committed.

We'll continue this series with the cornerbacks, a positional group in which the Broncos aren't committing a lot of money at this time, but that could change in the years to come.

Cornerback Roster for 2023

Current cornerbacks: Essang Bassey, Art Green, Faion Hicks, Delonte Hood, Devon Key, Damarri Mathis, Ja'Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Tremon Smith, Patrick Surtain II, K'Waun Williams.

Largest cash commitments for 2023: Surtain, Smith, and Williams both account for more than $2M in cash apiece. Surtain is due a $1.65M roster bonus and a $940K base salary, both fully guaranteed. Williams is due a $2.09M base salary and a $510K per-game roster bonus, none of it guaranteed. Smith received a $1.4M signing bonus and is due a $1.1M base salary for 2023.

Cash commitments for 2024: Surtain has more fully guaranteed money due next year, a $2.46M roster bonus, and a $1.055M base salary. Smith is under contract for 2024 and is due a $1.99M base salary. Williams will be an unrestricted free agent.

What could change for 2023: Perhaps the Broncos add a veteran later in the offseason, but if they do, that veteran will likely be on a cheap deal. The only other question that remains is which players make the final roster after training camp and the preseason.

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What could change for 2024: With Williams' contract expiring, the Broncos could be in the market for another veteran. Otherwise, Denver will likely have a lot of younger players on cheap contracts.

The decision that will have the most impact is Surtan's fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The Broncos will need to decide whether or not to pick up the option during the 2024 season, but if Surtain keeps playing at a high level, picking it up will be a no-brainer.

The question is how much that option (which is fully guaranteed) will be for 2025. Surtain has already earned an escalator in that option because of his Pro Bowl selection last season. If he makes the Pro Bowl again, that option further increases.

Furthermore, there could be questions about cash commitments to Surtain for 2024, because he will be eligible for an extension. It remains to be seen whether the Broncos extend him next season, but if they do that, it means more cash committed to him for 2024.

READ: How Broncos' Cash Commitments on OL Impact 2023 Outlook

Bottom Line

Should the final cornerback roster be limited to players currently under contract, the Broncos could be committing money in the $10M to $15M range for all players they keep at the position. That's pretty good value for a higher-priority position.

Broncos fans should enjoy the years of cheap cornerback play while they can, because, at the rate Surtain has played thus far, it won't be long before the Broncos have to commit more money to the position.

That, in turn, could impact other positions on the defense. Along with determining any needs at edge rusher, the Broncos will have to look at the future of the safety position.

That's particularly true because if Surtain keeps playing at a level, it would put him among the top five cornerbacks in the NFL; he's going to become one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL.

We'll talk about the safety position in the next article.

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