Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the only NFL player at an impasse with the Broncos front office. Left tackle Ryan Clady is also dealing with Denver’s efforts to keep player salary costs down.
Clady, 29, is a former first team All-NFL player, but has struggled to stay on the field in recent seasons. He is currently owed $9.5 next season in the fourth year of a five year deal signed in 2013. He has made approximately $33 million off this deal, but only played in 18 games during that time span.
For the Broncos, $9.5 million is simply too much to pay for an injury-prone tackle. Reports out of Denver indicate the team wants Clady back, but only if his price tag is below $5 million.
Cutting Clady would cost the Broncos $1.2 million, but there is nothing that would force the Broncos hand to make a decision on this front prior to week one. At that point, his contract becomes guaranteed.
With no immediate incentive to reach a decision, and Clady obviously wanting what he originally signed on for, the two sides are understandably deadlocked. However, this does not mean the Broncos are standing pat. The team has already brought in free agent tackle Russell Okung for a visit.
OT Russell Okung expected to visit Broncos, source says. Denver looking to bolster OL after losing Ryan Harris. Clady situation fluid too.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2016
The team already lost left tackle Ryan Harris to the Steelers in free agency, so the in-house options to replace Clady are not as promising as they were prior to the offseason.
Clady might seem to be in a precarious position, but his talent and NFL credentials at a position of high importance puts him in a strong bargaining position.
No need for Ryan Clady to blink. Still 2008, 1st-round pedigree. Both players coming off injury. LT always a position of need. Sm1 pays.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 17, 2016
As Mike Florio writes over at Pro Football Talk, if the two sides cannot reach a deal, a trade becomes a real possibility. Florio lists the Giants, Lions and Seahawks as potential suitors for Clady.
