If the Denver Broncos are going to go after Kirk Cousins, we now have an idea of what it will take financially.
On Thursday, news broke that the San Francisco 49ers have finalized a record-breaking contract for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The 5-year deal is worth $137.5M with over $90M of it being paid out within the first three years and over $74M of it in total guarantees. The fully guaranteed amount is not yet known.
When 49ers' QB Jimmy Garoppolo's 5-year deal gets finalized shortly, it will include the largest three-year cash total for a new contract in NFL history, just shy of $90 million, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 8, 2018
This sets the market for Kirk Cousins.
If the Denver Broncos want to compete for Cousins and a solution to their franchise quarterback puzzle, the cost is going to be substantial.
Things the Broncos will have to offer to make it interesting for Cousins:
- $30M/year average
- $140M total deal
- $80M or high in total guaranteed money
With the Broncos veteran roster on both offense and defense, Cousins would immediately pry open the championship window for this franchise. However, those numbers above are likely the floor. A team like the New York Jets might come in with much higher offers and I don’t think Denver will have the flexibility to match.
The more one looks at this situation, the more attractive the 2018 NFL Draft is looking when it comes to quarterbacks.
Either way, I think the Broncos should come in at the floor and see if that’s enough to sway Cousins to a franchise with a winning culture and tradition. If not, John Elway will be making some waves in the Top 5 of the draft at this position.
This post first appeared on Mile High Report, A Denver Broncos Community, please read the originial post: here
