KOA NewsRadio Denver Broncos insider Brandon Krisztal believes the Cleveland Browns would appeal to Von Miller if the Broncos decide to move on from the eight-time Pro Bowler.
Krisztal made a Thursday appearance on 92.3 The Fan’s “Bull and Show” show.
“I think there’s a couple of obvious connections,” Krisztal said of the possibility of Miller joining the Browns. “One being Von is kind of like a big brother to Myles Garrett, and so there’s that.
“And then Joe Woods calling the defense. Obviously, Von knows Joe really well from his time here in Denver.”
The Broncos have until the official start of free agency on March 17 to decide if they are picking up Miller’s 2021 team option.
“Von Miller is one of those players that really fits into any defense, and certainly fits into a Joe Woods’ defense,” Krisztal said. “The trickiest thing is trying to figure out exactly what George Paton wants to do with Von Miller, the Broncos’ new GM, and that’s in some part because I don’t know if George Paton has made up his mind yet.”
Paton told media members last week on Zoom that he’s had conversations with Miller’s representatives.
Paton said he also met with Miller.
Miller, who turns 32 later this month, would be guaranteed $7 million if the Broncos pick up the option.
Spotrac.com lists Miller’s 2021 salary cap hit at $22.25 million if the Broncos decide to keep him.
“Talking to people I trust in the building, it does seem like the George Paton hasn’t made up his mind yet,” Krisztal said.
Krisztal said the Broncos could try to renegotiate Miller’s contract with incentives or offer him a contract extension.
Team President John Elway has said before he wants Miller to retire as a member of the Broncos.
After the Broncos’ playoff drought of five seasons, Elway relinquished control of football decisions earlier this offseason.
The Broncos could also decide to let Miller become a free agent.
“I think all options are still on the table,” Krisztal said.
During a practice in September 2020, Miller dislocated his peroneal tendon in his ankle.
The injury forced Miller to miss the entire 2020 season.
Krisztal said if he were in Paton’s shoes, he would choose to offer Miller a contract extension.
“His injury was so fluky with the tendon getting wrapped around the ball of his ankle that it isn’t like it’s a chronic thing,” Krisztal said. “It wasn’t a torn ACL or a knee construction or a torn Achilles.
“It really does seem like he stepped weird and the tendon did something. That injury doesn’t normally happen, but he was coming in, in maybe the best shape of his career.
“And, you’ve got Bradley Chubb emerging. He was a Pro Bowl starter this year in a division where you’re going to go against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, and at the very least, Derek Carr and maybe better in Vegas here soon enough that why wouldn’t you have as many pass rush options as possible?”
Krisztal also pointed out how many of the NFL’s all-time elite pass rushers — Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor and DeMarcus Ware — compiled double-digit sack seasons in their 30s.
“I still think [Miller] has lots of good football, so I would extend him,” Krisztal said.
Miller played at Texas A&M from 2007-2010 while Garrett played for the Aggies from 2014-2016.
Woods worked as a defensive coordinator for the Broncos from 2015-2016 and then as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2017-2018.
Miller has played for the Broncos since 2011.
If the Broncos decide to keep Miller or if he signs with another team, there are several free-agent edge rushers the Browns could look to sign to pair opposite Garrett.
The Browns also have the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon is due to become an unrestricted free agent and is rehabbing from an Achilles injury.
Plus, the Browns released defensive end Adrian Clayborn on Tuesday.
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