Broncos Have Yet To Approach Mark Sanchez About A Pay Cut, But It’s A Possibility

Troy Renck of Denver 7 reports that while the Broncos have not approached veteran QB Mark Sanchez about a pay cut, it’s considered a possibility after first-round pick Paxton Lynch showed some inexperience in the team’s recent preseason game.

It’s worth mentioning that Sanchez didn’t even get into the game. However, Lynch didn’t show enough for them to completely rule out keeping Sanchez, despite an underwhelming preseason.

Renck floats the possibility that Denver could at least consider the idea of trying to trade Sanchez to a team in need of a backup quarterback such as the Cowboys.

At this point, it seems clear that Trevor Siemian is in line to be their starting quarterback this season, so it’s possible that Sanchez’s $4.5 million salary for the 2016 season could be too much for the Broncos to pay for a No. 2 or 3 quarterback. The Broncos traded a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick for Sanchez, so they could keep that pick if he’s unable to make the team.

Jimmy Kempski has a full breakdown of the trade with the Eagles involving Sanchez.

According to Kempski, the Eagles would get a sixth-round pick if Sanchez starts at least four games for the Broncos. Although, Philadelphia would technically receive the Titans’ sixth-round pick in 2017, as the Broncos don’t own their own sixth-rounder next year.

Sanchez, 29, is in the final year of his two-year, $9 million contract that includes $5.5 million guaranteed. He stands to make a base salary of $4.5 million for the 2016 season.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Sanchez would free up $3.5 million in available cap space while creating $1 million in dead money.

In 2015, Sanchez appeared in four games for the Eagles and threw for 616 yards while completing 64.8 percent of his passes to go along with four touchdowns and four interceptions.