Just two days after Von Miller told reporters that he and the Broncos have made “real progress” on a long-term deal and that he’s “very optimistic,” Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that there is “no deal in sight” after the Broncos proposed a six-year, $114.5 million contract with $39.8 million guaranteed in the first two years.
Broncos proposed 6-yr, $114.5M deal to Von Miller that includes $39.8M gtd in first 2 years, per sources close to Denver. No deal in sight.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2016
When asked on Monday after his White House visit if he was optimistic about working out a contract extension, Miller told reporters, “We’ve made real progress over the last couple of days. I’m very optimistic about the whole thing. Yeah, I remain optimistic about everything.”
This isn’t the first time the Broncos have come to the table with a reported deal. In April, 9News reported that the Broncos offered Miller a long-term deal worth $17-18 million per year. In that report, the Broncos were said to be unwilling to go above the $19.062 million that Ndamukong Suh is making.
Schefter’s report would mean that Denver is willing to go just under $1 million over that number, and only at two years. $39.8 million guaranteed over those first two years would put Miller at $19.9 million, well below the $22+ million he might be worth in the open market.
Miller is not in attendance at the team’s mandatory minicamp this week as he tries to work out an extension. The Broncos currently have him tagged with a franchise tender worth $14.129 for this season.
Schefter is not optimistic about a deal being done before the July 15 deadline.
Not to say it can't get done, but it will be very difficult for Denver and Von Miller to reach long-term agreement by July 15 deadline.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2016
Head coach Gary Kubiak said yesterday he was hoping to see Miller soon.
“I’d love to see him here before we call it a summer,” Kubiak told reporters.
With this latest info, that seems unlikely.
***UPDATE***
Roughly an hour after Schefter’s report broke, Mike Klis of 9News issued a report saying the Broncos had put a 10 p.m. deadline on Tuesday to reach a long-term deal with Miller, or they would “withdraw their multiyear contract proposal, leaving Miller to play the 2016 season on his $14.129 million ‘exclusive’ franchise tag.”
A Broncos source also told Klis negotiations had not broken off, despite the self-imposed deadline.