I'd take Malik Jackson over Demarcus Ware for the rest of the season if I had to pick between the two of them. Jackson has been great, and will most likely get a contract along the lines 5 years-$38 million this off-season. Ware is old, he broke down last season after his hot start in the first half, and I wouldn't be surprised if he does so again this year (and he's already banged up). I don't think losing Ware from the defense is a huge loss for Denver to be honest, especially since they have Shane Ray waiting to replace him.
I'd also be surprised if Von doesn't get the tag, and the team doesn't eventually hammer out a mammoth extension that surpasses (barely) Justin Houston's contract. $8 million a year for Wolfe seems a bit steep, but he has been playing well so we'll see. Denver is going to have a ton of cap room, and will have a number of large contracts to sign. They had a good 2012 draft (Wolfe, Osweiler, Hillman, Trevathan, Jackson) but all of those guys are in line for above average pay days except for Hillman. It will be interesting to see if they retain both/either of Vernon Davis and Evan Mathis- I'd expect Davis to start contributing more as the Broncos transition to a mostly 2 TE offense, so he could be in line for more money.
Elway has shown himself to be a competent GM thus far, and has shown a willingness to extend players in-season. If he is set on Brock as the QB of the future, Elway might try to get a deal done before the playoffs to get a good price on Osweiler. A complicating factor here is Manning. The team has paid a ton of lip service to "no decision have been made concerning the quarterback position" and has gone out of there way to try and avoid embarrassing Manning. Would he see a contract extension to Brock as a slap in the face? Would Elway think it would come across that way? And would he let them impede his efforts to sign Osweiler? My guess is no, but we'll see.
I'd also be surprised if Von doesn't get the tag, and the team doesn't eventually hammer out a mammoth extension that surpasses (barely) Justin Houston's contract. $8 million a year for Wolfe seems a bit steep, but he has been playing well so we'll see. Denver is going to have a ton of cap room, and will have a number of large contracts to sign. They had a good 2012 draft (Wolfe, Osweiler, Hillman, Trevathan, Jackson) but all of those guys are in line for above average pay days except for Hillman. It will be interesting to see if they retain both/either of Vernon Davis and Evan Mathis- I'd expect Davis to start contributing more as the Broncos transition to a mostly 2 TE offense, so he could be in line for more money.
I don't think that's risky for the Broncos, and I doubt Osweiler (and more importantly his agents) would go for it. Brock is going to want his money, so he might be willing to take a fairly friendly deal, but unless he totally craps the bed he will be able to get more after the season. He hasn't shown any indication that he will totally suck yet (still a ton of football to play, as teams get more tape on him as well), and his agents will want the upside of potential market competition for his services.
Elway has shown himself to be a competent GM thus far, and has shown a willingness to extend players in-season. If he is set on Brock as the QB of the future, Elway might try to get a deal done before the playoffs to get a good price on Osweiler. A complicating factor here is Manning. The team has paid a ton of lip service to "no decision have been made concerning the quarterback position" and has gone out of there way to try and avoid embarrassing Manning. Would he see a contract extension to Brock as a slap in the face? Would Elway think it would come across that way? And would he let them impede his efforts to sign Osweiler? My guess is no, but we'll see.
