Each NFL team’s worst contract on the books entering 2019
By Brad Weiss
Denver Broncos: Case Keenum
Prior to the 2018 NFL season, the Denver Broncos had a serious need at the quarterback position. Instead of trotting out guys like Trevor Siemian or Brock Osweiler in 2018, they went out and signed free agent Case Keenum, giving him a lucrative two-year contract to be the team’s starter going forward.
After an up and down 2018 campaign, the Broncos were obviously not happy with the job Keenum did, as they have agreed to a trade with the Baltimore Ravens for Joe Flacco. That move signals the end of Keenum’s run as the starting quarterback in Denver. He will get paid a ton of money to be the backup in 2019.
For the 2019 season, Keenum is going to count $21 million against the cap, which includes $10 million in dead cap money. Denver rolled the dice on Keenum after he led the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Championship Game after the 2017 campaign.
But his arrival in the Mile High City didn’t help Denver, as the Broncos finished with a losing season for the second straight year in 2018 and fired head coach Vance Joseph.
With Flacco under center, the Broncos will have a former Super Bowl MVP, but it is debatable whether he is an actually better option at quarterback. In both Keenum and Flacco, Denver will be paying their quarterbacks a combined $36.5 million, which accounts for 20 percent of their salary cap in 2019. That is just not good business.