Pritchard: Broncos need not pick up Ray’s option with Chubb contingency

Reports late Tuesday indicate the Denver Broncos may not pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round pick Shane Ray.

But all is OK, says “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Mike Pritchard. Denver’s got the Chubb contingency.

Mike Klis of 9News reports the Broncos are unlikely to exercise Ray’s $9.3 million fifth-year option, afforded to the team because of Ray’s first-round status, following a trio of low production years from the pass rusher.

In his rookie season in 2015, Ray backed up future Hall of Fame edge rusher DeMarcus Ware, grabbing just 4.0 sacks in 14 games. The following season Ray started eight games and played in all 16, garnering 8.0 sacks.

However, an injury-riddled season in 2017 left Ray with just 1.0 sack in eight games (seven starts).

But with the selection of highly-touted pass rusher Bradley Chubb fifth-overall in last weekend’s NFL Draft, the Broncos have a contingency plan if things don’t work out with Ray, Pritchard said.

“If you’re the Broncos, and Shane Ray tears it up and he’s an unrestricted free agent because you didn’t option him, do you have contingencies? Yeah, you do. You drafted Bradley Chubb,” Pritchard said.

“Would you like to keep him? You can, but only at your price because you drafted Bradley Chubb. If Shane is like, ‘No, I want to test the market.’ OK, we’re good because we drafted Bradley Chubb.”

“Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley, however, called it a “no-brainer” decision for Denver to pick up Ray’s fifth-year option.

“Look, John Elway said it. You can never have too many pass rushers,” Stokley said Tuesday. “So, are you going to just let Shane Ray walk?”

Said head coach Vance Joseph Thursday after the club took Chubb fifth-overall: “We’ve got four big-time rushers. How we use them is almost irrelevant. Having four rushers is always a special treat to have.”

Stokley said it’s a win-win for Denver if they exercise the option in that extra year is only guaranteed against injury. So, should Ray’s production slump in 2018, the Broncos could move on without much penalty.

“You pick up the option. It’s only guaranteed for injury. So, if he stays healthy and he doesn’t have a good year, you don’t have to follow through on it,” Stokley said. “It’s like a no-brainer.”

Ray is due to make $1.2 million in 2018, per Spotrac.com. Should Denver decide to exercise the fifth-year of his contract, it must do so by 2 p.m. Thursday.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.

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