Renck: Dead cap a ‘manageable figure’ if Broncos decline DT option
Jan 15, 2018, 12:00 PM | Updated: Jan 16, 2018, 12:06 am
With what Denver 7’s Troy Renck called a “wrinkle” in Demaryius Thomas’ contract, the longest-tenured Broncos players could be facing either a restructure this offseason or the door out of Dove Valley.
Renck, who joined Big Al and DMac on Friday, explained that Thomas has a $4 million option that, if the Broncos do not exercise, would void the final two years of his contract, making him a free agent.
And, according to Renck, the dead money against Denver’s cap, should that be the path the club takes, would be just less than $3.1 million — $4.4 million minus the $1.3 million of Thomas’ bonus already absorbed in the cap space.
“If they don’t pick it up, they can void the remainder of the contract,” Renck said. “and the dead cap money would, depending on how you look at it, be reasonable at $3.1 million.”
It’s a situation that makes Thomas vulnerable, as Renck wrote Friday, this offseason.
According to Spotrac.com, Thomas’ cap hit for the Broncos would be $12.033 million and $17.533 million in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
But, if Thomas and the Broncos can’t agree on a restructure, it’s a “manageable figure,” Renck said, for Denver to move on from the wide receiver if the team opts to “completely overhaul and reshape” its roster.
“You’d love to see him retire here. He’s a Ring of Famer,” Renck said. “I’m not trying to run the guy out of town. I’m just playing the economics of it that that’s a manageable figure if you choose to move on.”
Aside from his first two seasons in the league, where he started just seven times in 21 total games, Thomas had decidedly the lowest statistical output of his career in 2017.
In his eighth season, Thomas had just 5.2 receptions per game, 59.3 receiving yards per game, and five total touchdowns, his lowest marks since the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Thomas also fell just 51 yards short of 1,000 yards receiving on the season, snapping a streak of 1,000-yard seasons dating back to 2012.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
