Sometimes things in life can catch us all by surprise.

In the midst of preparation for their AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Denver Broncos had other of business to take care of that caused a ripple wave through media outlets covering the NFL.

Earlier this afternoon, the team reached an agreement on a four-year extension with versatile defender Derek Wolfe. The breaking news became the primary topic of discussion for Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro's on AM1340 The Afternoon Drive show today.

Shapiro began his thoughts with stating how surprised he was with the extension, given the fact the team being is in the midst of playoff preparation, but congratulated him on his efforts and acknowledged the importance to the team. Goodman then pointed out that in only 12 games, Wolfe's production is better this year than any other full season he has played.

Undoubtedly, Wolfe is a player on the rise and his best football is ahead of him. Moreover, his demeanor and lunch-pail mentality on the field is something that the team desires. He gives it his all every snap and seems to have rebounded from his prior spinal injury and past troubles with a PED suspension that had him sidelined the first four games of the season. If you want an idea of how good Wolfe has been this year, he was Pro Football Focus' second-rated defensive lineman against the run for the 2015 season, trailing only All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt.

In the words of former Broncos Head Coach John Fox, "Not too shabby."

The dialogue on Wolfe then went back to the 2012 NFL Draft, where many were surprised with the Broncos' selection of Wolfe and subsequent trade out of the first-round. Many had believed that the team was poised to take Boise State and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin, but Denver opted to roll the dice on an impressive defensive lineman to help set the edge of their defense and bolster the ability for Von Miller to succeed on the outside.

Looking back, the selection of Wolfe by the Broncos was a tremendous value. He has cemented himself as one of the best young defenders in the NFL and came at a fair price in comparison to what he likely would have garnered open market. Alas, with one need addressed for the Broncos prior to the advent of the off-season and free agency, a larger question arises.

Both Goodman and Shapiro wondered, "What does this mean for Malik Jackson?"

According to Goodman, he had a discussion with a high level Broncos executive earlier in the season, in which it was mentioned that the team had a sincere desire to sign Jackson to a long-term deal and that such a desire still remains. Both Goodman and Shapiro discussed the statistical comparison and playing time of Wolfe and Jackson and believed that Jackson would likely get a deal similar, but with less money in comparison to Wolfe.

Malik Jackson on if he played the powerball: "Nah, I didn't. I have a lottery of my own coming up here in a few weeks." — Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 11, 2016

This is an opinion I certainly don't agree with. One could surmise that if the Broncos were all-in on Jackson as priority number one, they would have offered him contract proposal first. Perhaps they did, and that deal was ultimately rebuffed by Jackson and his agent. Given that, the team moved their attention to Wolfe, who had been adamant about his desire to stay in Denver and came to a deal that was favorable to both sides. It is pure speculation on my behalf, but a situation that is certainly plausible.

Keep in mind, the Broncos have a handful of quality free agents outside of Jackson, such as Danny Trevathan and Von Miller who will be looking to get paid this off-season. as well. That being said, it is possible that today's deal with Wolfe signifies that Jackson is now on the outside looking in, and may be better off finding more money in free agency if the hypothetical situation I outlined above is true.

It would be a definite loss for the team, as Jackson has blossomed into a quality player since he was acquired in the fifth-round in the same draft was Wolfe. However, this years draft is extraordinarily deep on the defensive line and the Broncos might not have a problem finding a player who can replace Jackson at a much cheaper price. Interested in some of those names? Keep your eyes peeled for Mile High Report's extensive NFL Draft coverage over the next couple of months and you will get to know those prospects quite well.

For now, all we can do is prognosticate, but will have to wait and see how it plays out. Just don't expect any other deals in regard to the teams' upcoming free agents until after the season is over.

In the meantime, feel free to head on over to Mile High Sports' SoundCloud to catch the rest of today's show that included an interview with outside linebacker Shane Ray and our very own Kyle Montgomery speaking with Goodman and Shapiro about this weekends' match-up against the Steelers.

Enjoy!