Miller’s new deal will make him the highest paid player in Denver Broncos franchise history and the highest paid non-QB in National Football League history. (Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who cashed in during free agency previous year, averages $19.063 million.) Miller is guaranteed to make $70 million, second only to the $87 million guaranteed Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck received in the contract he signed last month.
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That’s nearly double the guaranteed money the Broncos were offering him in June. The teams and players that don’t get that deal done have to have the player sign and play under the franchise tag in 2016 or not play at all.
Miller’s contract situation was highly talked about, and with this latest news, the doubts of Miller re-signing with the Broncos after the Super Bowl were as real as can be. The 26-year-old Wilkerson confirmed the length of the contract in a video released on the Jets’ Twitter account.
Miller later posted on social media there was “no chance” he would play the 2016 season under the franchise tag.
Had he sat out this year, Miller would have backed the Broncos into a corner because they could not have used the exclusive tag on him again in 2017. Both the total value and the guaranteed money exceeded the six-year, $114.375 million with $59.95 million guaranteed the Dolphins gave to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in 2015. The four-time Pro Bowl selection added 2 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles to help the Broncos beat the Panthers in Super Bowl 50. An NFL career, no matter how stellar it is, can come to an end on any given play. Amerson originally signed a four-year, $3.85 million deal coming out of North Carolina State. That title now belongs to Miller and for the Broncos they needed him back on defense as they are going through a transitional phase at the quarterback position. That tactic upset the normally upbeat Miller, who went on to first crop Broncos general manager John Elway out of a picture from the team’s trip to the White House, and then say he would not play the season under the franchise tag.
He recorded two-and-a-half sacks at Levi’s Stadium as the Broncos won their third Super Bowl in franchise history. “I know that the window for playing is closing”.
Miller had 35 tackles and 11 sacks in 16 games last season. The following year, he tore his ACL in the second-to-last game of the season.
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Miller’s ascension to Super Bowl MVP came after a troubled 2013 season during which he was suspended six games under the league’s substance abuse policy.
