Clayton: Huge extension could be waiting for Bradley Chubb

The big news in the NFL on Wednesday was Fred Warner getting a five-year, $95 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers.

People were stunned when Bobby Wagner got $18 million a year from the Seattle Seahawks. Next up will be Darius Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts. He has more sacks and more tackles and better numbers than Warner. He’ll probably get $19.5 million a year.

It makes you wonder where it could go when Bradley Chubb starts negotiating. Chubb is in the fourth year of his four-year rookie contract. The Broncos placed the fifth-year option at $12.716 million. If stays healthy and has a great year, he could get huge extension.

Von Miller is in the last year of his contract. He signed a six-year contract in 2016 that paid him $19.016 million a year. It will be interesting to see how general manager George Paton handles the outside linebacker position. Do you keep Chubb on the fifth-year option? Do you give a big extension to Miller?

Clearly, the outside number for 3-4 linebackers will head into the $20 million a year range. T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers will end up getting the biggest contact. He’s a Defensive Player of the Year candidate just about every season.

Warner tipped off the linebacker salaries jumping.