It wasn’t long after Super Bowl 50 came to an end that Broncos General Manager John Elway called keeping defensive end Malik Jackson in Denver a priority for the offseason.
It doesn’t look like it took too long for the Broncos to put action behind those words. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports that the team is “negotiating in earnest” with the player who scored the first touchdown of their Super Bowl victory.
Klis adds that talks about a deal have not progressed to a point that Jackson would re-sign before hitting the open market. Jackson said on PFT Live this week that he’d like to return to Denver, but that “it’s a business” when it comes to where he’ll eventually wind up.
Seeing what the business might offer a productive starting defensive end could keep that progress from getting made and the Broncos won’t be able to improve their chances of keeping Jackson with a franchise tag should they use it on linebacker Von Miller.
Per Klis, contract talks haven’t started with quarterback Brock Osweiler yet but that some could happen at this month’s combine.