Broncos Re-Signed Kareem Jackson With a Shockingly Low Guarantee

Not long after the NFL draft concluded, the Denver Broncos re-signed veteran safety Kareem Jackson to a one-year deal. Although the two sides had been in communication throughout the offseason, it took a face-to-face meeting with new Broncos head coach Sean Payton to seal the deal.

That meeting included a discussion about what Jackson's role would be with the Broncos, and it, no doubt, touched on the financial commitment Payton would be willing to make. Jackson — a starter in Denver the past four seasons — will have to compete for that job with third-year safety Caden Sterns, and it's possible the veteran could be facing a reduction in playing time.

Commensurate with the possibility of a diminished role, the one-year deal the Broncos signed Jackson to is worth up to $2.67 million, according to 9NEWS' Mike Klis, and came with a shockingly low amount of guaranteed money ($152,500). However, Jackson's decision to rejoin the Broncos was not solely motivated by money, as he explained to Klis.

“The market, obviously understanding where I’m at in my career,’’ Jackson told Klis. “Obviously would love to get a few extra dollars here and there if we can but understanding the group of guys we have here and what we can do this year. I’ve played a long time. I’ve made a pretty penny. It’s not all about the money. It’s all about coming here and dealing with a great group of guys.”

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While the basis for Jackson's motivation to continue his playing career in Denver is commendable, it does leave him vulnerable to the vagaries of competition. If Jackson isn't able to out-compete his younger fellow safeties in training camp, the Broncos will face no real drawbacks to releasing him. The dead-money hit would be negligible.

However, while the 35-year-old Jackson may be no spring chicken, he's a very experienced competitor. Crossing figurative swords with Sterns, or any other safety, in training camp will be nothing new.

We know how Jackson's teammates feel about him, including Sterns. Everyone who's been asked about Jackson's return publicly has not only expressed their excitement, but they've also gushed about all that he brings to the table.

"I can’t answer what the move is or isn’t going to be," Sterns told Klis earlier this month. "But I will say first and foremost I’m glad they brought Uncle Jack back. Just the experience and tone-setting mentality he brings to the team is definitely needed. He’s like an advisor, a big brother to me."

The coaching staff has likewise been very complimentary. New Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph coached Jackson early in his career in Houston, and relishes the leadership and football IQ he'll bring to the unit.

"‘K-Jack’ is still playing. It’s funny that he was a corner for 10 years, and now he’s playing safety," Joseph said earlier this week. "He was a little fat kid when I had him as a second-year guy in Houston. Now, he’s a grown man. He’s smart, and he’s a great leader for our defense. It’s been fun to watch.”

Jackson is, as Joseph said, a great leader. But there's no denying that his skills have diminished in recent years. Father Time remains undefeated. Even the seemingly immortal Tom Brady eventually succumbed to time.

That being said, even if Jackson's ultimate role with the Broncos is as a reserve safety who takes the field in certain sub-package situations, the value he presents as a leader, mentor, and student of the game will have a greater impact than meets the eye in the box score.

Payton's version of training camp will be a far cry from the Club Med affair under Nathaniel Hackett, but this isn't Jackson's first rodeo. Jackson has been through the refiner's fire and after toiling away on a losing team in Denver the past four years, he's bought-in to Payton's program.

“I’ve been part of some tough training camps, but it will definitely be a change – especially for the rookies last year with the training camp we had last year,’’ Jackson told Klis. “With having a yellow and green and red day. In terms of everybody being fresh going into the season, body-wise, everybody was but at the same time you’ve still got to get some work in.

“So it will definitely be a change for some guys. We’ll see how it works but I believe in what coach Sean is doing.”

Even at 35, and even considering his relative decline over the past two seasons, the Broncos got Jackson back at bargain-bin pricing. But something tells me that what he provides the Broncos in return will be anything but cheap.

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