The Broncos’ busy day before the legal-tampering period continued deep into the night, as they kept a pair of backups from hitting the market.
Hours after agreeing to terms with inside linebacker Justin Strnad and tight end Adam Trautman, they agreed on one-year contracts with tight end Nate Adkins and quarterback Sam Ehlinger. The Denver Post was first to report the Adkins contract; Jordan Schultz was first to break the Ehlinger deal.
Adkins had been set to become a restricted free agent had he received a tender from the Broncos, while Ehlinger was poised to become an unrestricted free agent when the market opened this week.
For Adkins, the deal gives the Broncos some relief, as they didn’t want to have him on a $3.52 million cap figure that would have been required had they given him the original-round tender that would have had the right of first refusal with it. But that tender wouldn’t have been guaranteed for Adkins.
Thus, the Broncos keep one of their most versatile contributors. The four-year veteran can handle work at fullback, tight end, H-back and multiple special-teams units.
But keeping Ehlinger comes with some intrigue, especially with rumblings last week of trade interest in No. 2 quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who started the AFC Championship Game.
BRONCOS WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE EHLINGER TO STAY LAST DECEMBER
Ehlinger shuttled between the Broncos’ practice squad and the 53-player roster last year, and had an opportunity last December to jump to the Indianapolis Colts’ 53-man roster after Daniel Jones was lost to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. But coach Sean Payton sold Ehlinger on the idea of staying put with the Broncos’ practice squad.
“Listen, we spent time with him and we’re glad he’s here. We’re glad he’s staying. We think a lot of him, a lot, he’s been a real good surprise for all of us. Especially offensively when we see and watch him. And he made that decision and that’s a big deal,” Payton said at the time. “That doesn’t happen a lot.”
Ehlinger spent four seasons with the Colts before joining the Broncos last offseason. He posted a 98.2 passer rating on 42-of-57 passing for 415 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception in the preseason last year.