Entering a season with an interesting collection of contract-year players, the Broncos have begun discussing a long-term future with one of them.
The Broncos have opened extension talks with Matt Paradis, Mike Klis of 9News reports. Paradis will begin his fourth season as Denver’s starting center next month. These talks will likely intensify toward the end of camp, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets.
Paradis, Bradley Roby, Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray comprise the notable sect of walk-year Broncos, and the team extended second-round RFA tenders to Paradis and Barrett. Both are attached to that $2.9MM amount this season. Paradis, though, has been the Bronco who’s seen the most snaps over the past three seasons. He’s started all 48 games since debuting as Denver’s top snapper in 2015, the former sixth-round pick doing so in 2016 despite pain in both hips — requiring two surgeries last year.
Now able to train regularly this offseason, Paradis could set himself up to be a prime free agent on the 2019 market. Though, the Broncos will surely not want to let their offensive line’s centerpiece walk. Considering the Bradley Chubb selection could cloud the futures of Barrett and Ray in Denver, and no known Roby re-up talks having taken place yet, Paradis may be the team’s top extension priority this year.
The Broncos negotiated extensions for RFAs given second-round tenders in the recent past, signing Brandon Marshall long-term in 2016 and Brandon McManus last year. Six centers earn at least $9MM per year, and Paradis being convinced to bypass free agency will likely mean his team making him the seventh such snapper. Two centers — Ryan Jensen and Brandon Linder — are $10MM-AAV players.
Pro Football Focus’ No. 8 center in 2017, Paradis is a bit older than others from his 2014 draft class. He’s set to turn 29 this season. So, the Broncos will be signing up for his early-30s campaigns if they agree to extend him.