Klis: Paycut only way Sanchez makes Broncos roster if not starter
Aug 24, 2016, 8:05 PM
Two factors are working against Mark Sanchez making the Denver Broncos final 53-man roster: his $4.5 million salary and the seventh-round draft pick the team would have to send to Philadelphia should he make the team.
It’s been quite the “fall from grace,” as “C.J. and Stokley” co-host Charles Johnson put it Wednesday. The veteran had been the team’s presumed starter by many despite head coach Gary Kubiak saying he and second-round pro Trevor Siemian would compete for the role.
Now, a month after camp commenced, Sanchez appears to be on the outside looking in.
Mike Klis, 9News Broncos Insider, told “C.J. and Stokley” Wednesday that he thinks Sanchez will likely be the No. 3 quarterback come the team’s — and the NFL’s — season opener Sept. 8 against the Carolina Panthers because they “wouldn’t want him to get in the way of Paxton Lynch getting reps.”
And that’s even if he’s on the roster.
“The only way he stays is if they decide to rework that $4.5 million salary because I’m not sure he would even be the No. 2 against Carolina,” Klis said.
Couple the money factor with the conditional seventh-round pick from Denver’s trade with Philadelphia should Sanchez not make the final 53, and it looks as if it could be tough sledding for the veteran to make the roster after next week.
However, Klis said he thinks the seventh-round pick would be worth giving up to keep Sanchez just in case of emergency, despite the steep price tag.
“Personally, for insurance, I think a seventh-round pick is worth it,” Klis said.
Cutting Sanchez would leave the Broncos with Siemian, who’s only NFL regular season snap was a kneel down, and rookie Paxton Lynch.
As far as a timetable to figure out who won the starting role, Kubiak said he’d make a decision next week, following the team’s tilt with the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night.
Follow 104.3 The Fan digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.