Will Broncos have room for Riley Moss AND Ja’Quan McMillian?

The Broncos faced decision time on the defensive line last year, and in the end, they doled out contract extensions to D.J. Jones, Zach Allen and Malcolm Roach over a nine-month span. That left John Franklin-Myers on his way out — although one can’t say he’s out in the cold after signing a deal with the Tennessee Titans that should provide lifetime — and perhaps generational — wealth.

So, if the Broncos have to make a similar decision between Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian over the coming months — with Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine in the mix to provide young depth and promise — it’s doubtful there will be any true sadness for the player who moves on.

McMillian has put together a play-making statistical line in the last three years that only two other NFL players can match — and neither are cornerbacks. And Moss enters his fourth season having proven his worth as a No. 2 cornerback targeted frequently thanks to the presence of All-Pro and 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II on the opposite flank.

For much of last year, a primary story in the public’s eyes with Moss was his penalty proclivity. Some of it was deserved; some infractions were reputation-based. But of the 12 regular-season penalties for which Moss was flagged last year, just one came after the team’s Week 12 bye. He had 11 penalties in the first 11 games and just one in the six that followed.

His passer passer rating allowed when targeted was virtually the same — 88.4 in Weeks 12-17; 88.1 in Weeks 1-10 before the bye. But without the penalties, he became a more effective player — and one easily worth No. 2 cornerback money.

But the question now is this: What if McMillian secures the bag first?

IS THERE A WAY FOR THE BRONCOS TO ABSORB CONTRACTS FOR SURTAIN, MOSS AND McMILLIAN?

They could, because the cap does offer opportunities to spread out the hits by using restructures of contract money to signing bonus and the chance to add void years to any deal, a tactic the Broncos have used more often in recent years.

But with Bo Nix poised to see his contract explode exponentially by no later than 2029 if he conitnues on his current form and the presence of two developing recent picks who played well when pressed into service last year in Abrams-Draine and Barron, it would seem there’s no reason to recklessly push the envelope and create a cap crunch.

Surtain’s average-per-year contract figure prior to his recent contract adjustment was $24 million per year. Now, the Rams have their top two corners at a combined $48 million per year — Trent McDuffie at $31 million of average per-year value and Jaylen Watson at $17 million. Cleveland has its top two corners at $39.325 million of average per-year value.

So, Surtain’s contract gives plenty of room to take on Moss if it wants. But with the potential of reaching the range of least $15-million in average-per-year value — and McMillian potentially reaching that same range based on his play — the Broncos might have to think long and hard before even having a $40-million CB room, let alone one that pushes into the mid-$50 millions.

Especially with recent Broncos picks Barron and Abrams-Draine waiting in the wings.

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