How Broncos should prioritize each contract extension after new deal for Courtland Sutton

After reaching a contract extension with Courtland Sutton, the Broncos should follow this process with other stars.

The Denver Broncos made some waves off the field on Monday, just their third full day of training camp practice, by agreeing to a four-year, $92 million contract extension with No. 1 wide receiver Courtland Sutton. 

It was a move that was expected at some time this season, as Sutton was set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. The Broncos opted to get it out of the way early, to avoid any distractions, and the move should officially remove Sutton's name from trade rumors, where it's been for years. 

Now that the team has that out of the way, there are still some key players on the roster that the front office should be aggressive in keeping around as key building blocks for the future. Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto and John Franklin-Myers would fit that description, and this is how the Broncos should prioritize each of those extensions. 

1. Zach Allen

This is close, but Allen was tremendous for the team last season and is the best player on the defensive front. The Broncos don't want to weaken that unit by allowing Allen to sign elsewhere next year. There isn't a lot of depth on the defensive line behind him and the Broncos certainly don't have a player who could fill his shoes, at least not right now. 

Currently, Spotrac values a potential three-year extension for Allen at $66 million, or approximately $22 million per year. That's pricey, but he's worth it. 

2. Nik Bonitto

If the Broncos choose to get a deal done with Bonitto before Allen, it would be hard to argue. He's coming off his best year as a pro and has the potential to be even better, plus he's two years younger than Allen. 

If Bonitto has another double-digit sack season, he is going to be very expensive to keep around. Spotrac shows a projected value for Bonitto at nearly $24 million per year and that could go up. But that doesn't mean the Broncos should let him get away. 

READ:Former Broncos running back makes wild 53-man roster prediction

Fourth-round pick Que Robinson could be pegged as his replacement if he has a strong rookie season and the Broncos feel the pricetag for Bonitto is just too high. 

3. John Franklin-Myers

There is a good chance the Broncos won't be able to keep all three of these guys and trading back into the third round to select Sai'vion Jones may have shown that the Broncos are already quite aware of that. 

Franklin-Myers was a terrific find for the team last year as they obtained him for a sixth-round pick. He responded by recording seven sacks in his first season with the team. Another year like that will have him able to earn top dollar on the free-agent market, and the Broncos may have to let him walk. 

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Category: Football