Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Ted Shih. To submit a question for consideration, send an e-mail to The Denver Post’s Jeff Legwold.

Q: Is (Shaun) Phillips only part of the pass-rush package? Why, other than money, would the Broncos elect to sign Phillips rather than Dwight Freeney or John Abraham?

A: Ted, money is always part of the equation when the Broncos look at personnel. That’s because it’s part of the equation when every team looks at personnel.

How the financial pie is carved up is dictated by potential output. The Broncos tried to negotiate with Freeney and came to the conclusion he essentially wants too much money for what he brings to the table at this point in his career as essentially a one-down player.

Freeney started at $8 million for 2013 in his initial talks with the Broncos. That number got closer to $6 million as the talks went on, but the Broncos moved on at that point.

Freeney has since told teams he wants a deal similar to Falcons’ Osi Umeniyora — $8.5 million over two seasons — and that was still more than the Broncos envisioned.

Abraham, too, was looking for more than the Broncos wanted to give at that point. Abraham has said publicly, on a nationally syndicated radio show no less, that he wanted $12 million per year on a multi-year deal and that even if he was playing “terrible” he would want a $5 million per year deal.

The Broncos stepped up the pace with Phillips in recent weeks and came to the conclusion that because he has played plenty in both the pass rush and with more traditional linebacker responsibilities, he could be a fit both on the field and against the cap.

The Broncos, with John Elway calling the shots on the football side, are more inclined to keep veteran free agents on short-term deals to maintain some flexibility with the salary cap and avoid the inevitable “dead money” — salary-cap charges still on the books from multi-year deals after the player is no longer with the team.

Phillips agreed to a one-year deal with a $1 million base salary — no signing bonus — to go with incentives of $400,000 at eight, 10 and 12 sacks.

The Broncos also see Phillips with the ability to play at the strongside linebacker spot. This would allow them the option to move Von Miller, the starting strongside linebacker and one of the best pass rushers in the league, around in the formation to find favorable matchups.

Here’s how Broncos coach John Fox put it:

“He’ll have (flexibility) on early downs to be a ‘sam’ linebacker over a tight end as well as being that open end, (defensive end) Robert Ayers’ position now. (Phillips) has both those abilities like Von Miller. Von is pretty much in on all three downs. We look at (Phillips) a little bit like that. He will be a valuable asset for sure.”

Phillips can also rush from a stand-up position or from a three-point stance so the Broncos could play Phillips all over the formation and even rush Miller from the right defensive end spot if they wished at times — Elvis Dumervil’s former position. And in terms of production, Phillips’ output in 2013 was better than Freeney’s and comparable to Abraham’s.

He just did it for a struggling team while the other two players played for teams that went to the playoffs.

Freeney is 33 years old and finished the 2012 season with five sacks last season and 12 tackles overall. Abraham is 34, but finished ’12 tied for 19th in the league in sacks with 10 to go with 35 tackles and six forced fumbles.

Phillips is younger, at 31, and was tied for 21st in the league last season with 9.5 sacks, 50 tackles and two forced fumbles. Phillips’ sack total, it’s likely worth noting, was a half-sack more than Paul Kruger last season. Kruger was one of the most sought-after free agents last month and signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Browns.

The Broncos certainly tried to get Freeney and Abraham into the pass rush, but both have conveyed that they are willing to wait to get the kind of deal they want, the kind of deal the Broncos weren’t willing to give. The Broncos tried to sell the benefits of coming to a team with high expectations and Peyton Manning at quarterback for what figures to be one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses.

That means the Broncos should have the lead, and Denver’s defensive players should get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer, and for sacks, as other teams will be in catch-up mode.

Phillips was willing. The Broncos like the value and potential production he brings.

Jeff Legwold: jlegwold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jeff_legwold