Clayton: With 2022 salary cap announced, the Broncos have flexibility

The NFL had an owners meeting on Wednesday. When they have a December owners meeting, they project next year salary cap.

That happened. The 2022 salary cap will be $208.2 million. That is an amazing jump from this year’s $182.5 million cap, which is down eight percent from 2020.

Despite spending more than $25 million a year for Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick, the Broncos are in great shape cap-wise. The Broncos have $48,091,382 of cap room. That’s the 10th most in the league.

With the signings of Sutton and Patrick, and moving Von Miller, the Broncos have 17 unrestricted free agents. They probably won’t do anything with cornerback Kyle Fuller. Melvin Gordon might not be re-signed because the starting job will go to Javonte Williams next year. It’s uncertain what they will do with linebackers Josey Jewell and A.J Johnson.

Right tackle Bobby Massie is a UFA. So is quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, but the Broncos have enough room to splurge on a quarterback.

The big decisions involve safety Kareem Jackson and cornerback Bryce Callahan. The secondary is good and deep. Jackson is having a Pro Bowl season. Callahan can still be the slot corner with Patrick Surtain and Ronald Darby on the outside.

It’s a good situation for general manager George Paton. He has total flexibility because of the big cap room In many ways the AFC West is in good shape. The Los Angeles Chargers have the second-most cap room at $72.8 million. The Las Vegas Raiders are eighth at $50.1 million. The Kansas City Chiefs have $29.8 million. That’s a lot of cap room.

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