Broncos expected to tender restricted free agent Lindsay

According to 9News Insider Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos are expected to tender restricted free agent Phillip Lindsay.

Broncos expected to tender restricted free agent Lindsay – but at what level? https://t.co/raCHTTQtgZ via @9NEWS #9sports

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) March 4, 2021

“A bigger question remains as the team has not yet determined whether to place an original — in Lindsay’s case a no-round tender — or a second-round tender that would carry an estimated 2021 salary of $3.38 million (not guaranteed),” Klis wrote.

According to Klis, the second-round tender would bring less hassle for the Broncos because it would all but prevent other teams from trying to sign Lindsay.

The details for a second-round tender are as follows: The greater of $3.384 million or 110 percent of the player’s 2020 salary. If the offer sheet is not matched, the original team receives the new team’s second-round selection in the upcoming draft.

There have been cases of teams submitting a competitive offer sheet to a second-round tendered restricted free agent (RFA) player, but it’s a rare occurrence.

In Lindsay’s case, another team would have to give him a contract offer that would be lucrative enough to sign him away, then that competing team would also have to compensate Denver with a second-round draft pick or something comparable.

Klis also mentions the option of an original round tender.

Original-round tender: The greater of $2.33 million or 110 percent of the player’s 2020 salary. If the offer sheet is not matched, the original team receives a draft pick equivalent to where the player was originally selected.

Klis writes that a $3.38 million salary is good value for a running back who had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, but it may be too much money in the Broncos’ eyes for a rusher whose production dropped due to injuries and added competition in Melvin Gordon.

The Broncos must submit its RFA tender to Lindsay by March 17.