Could the Arizona Cardinals afford Von Miller?

So the Cardinals then need to hope they are able to resign both Jones and Miller, can it be possible? Almost the hardest part of this scenario.

Arizona needs to be able to offer around as much as what the Broncos are offering, but more guarantees. The Broncos are offering $114,500,000 over 6 years, with a little over $38,500,000 in guarantees, according to The Denver Post. What Miller is attempting to do is get closer to the guarantees of Fletcher Cox.

Fletcher Cox has the largest amount of guarantees from any defensive player in the NFL, at a staggering amount of $63,000,000. Deservedly so, Fletcher is one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL, but Miller is the best linebacker in the NFL.

If the Cardinals take on Miller’s contract, for what the Broncos are offering ($114,500,000), you are putting an average salary of $19,083,333 per year. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve this, but to be able to retain other players, we would need him to come down from this number. More around $106,000,000, which is still a modest number.

If you’re paying Miller $106,000,000 over 6 years, that’s an average of $17,666,666 per year. That’s a lot easier on the salary cap for the Cardinals. With that kind of number, you’re able to offer a contract to Jones. Guarantees are the biggest thing for Miller, so giving him guarantees of $55,000,000 still saves space for Jones.

Jones is another question mark. Obviously, he wants to be paid in the realm of Miller and J.J. Watt. Does he deserve that? I don’t exactly know, but to retain a player like Jones, you might have to.

Say if you’re offering Miller $106,000,000, you need to get close to what he is making, but still outlining that he is obviously the top dog. I’d say that Jones could be okay with a $100,000,000 for 6 seasons. That’s closer to what J.J. Watt signed in 2014, which is 8 years, $108,000,000. I’d give Jones a little less in guarantees, maybe around $42,000,000.

Now, Jones’ contract is for 6 years, $16,666,666, per year, while the Miller contract is around $17,666,666. Keeping these two contracts a little closer, and around the same amount of years is key.

Something that confuses fans is the salary cap, being able to manipulate the salary cap is a general managers most utilized tool. Alternating the cap back-and-forth is key to keeping these two, plus making sure you’re able to keep an eye on upcoming free agents in the next couple of seasons.

I kind of want fans to get a feeling on where the Jones contract could be heading, and to be aware of the implications of his contract, for the near future.

So what would you think about a Miller trade? Is he worth a trade of this magnitude? Let’s discuss.

Update: According to https://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/08/von-miller-denver-broncos-contract-offer/, the Broncos have offered a contract at the same number, more guarantees. This time, the guarantees are $57,500,000. These are, of course, estimated numbers, we don’t know the exact numbers until he either signs or, on a dim chance, is traded.