AP

It’s hard to disagree with the notion that the Broncos have become emboldened during contract negotiations by deals like the one signed last season by defensive lineman Derek Wolfe. After all, the Broncos took full advantage of the fact that tackle Russell Okung was representing himself to finagle a deal so strong for the team that some have suggested the Broncos should actually feel bad about it. It’s also hard to argue with anything the Broncos have done under G.M. John Elway, given the success the team has enjoyed.

But the Broncos notorious hard-line approach to contracts hardly means that they’re trying to undercut linebacker Von Miller. Under the numbers reported by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, who says the Broncos are offering $18 million per season while Miller wants $22 million annually, the Broncos are being more than reasonable, given the realities of the franchise tag.

Miller is due to make $14.129 million under the franchise tag this year. Next year, he’d get $16.95 million. That’s $31.079 million over two years, which would be earned only if Miller remains sufficiently healthy and effective to prompt the team to apply the tag again in 2017.

In 2018, Miller would be entitled to the quarterback franchise tender or $24.4 million, whichever is greater. That’s $55.4 million over three years, an average of $18.4 million.

While issues regarding the structure of the deal could become an impediment (e.g., how much will the Broncos fully guarantee at signing?), the pending offer comes close to matching what Miller would make over the next three years, if he were to go year to year under the tag.

While Miller may think he’d get $22 million on the open market, he’s currently shackled by the franchise tag. And the franchise tag is what determines the value of the long-term deal.

That’s how the Broncos did it a year ago with receiver Demaryius Thomas, and it’s also how the Cowboys did it with receiver Dez Bryant.

So while the Broncos may be willing to squeeze players where the leverage supports a good squeezing, they’re definitely not squeezing Miller unfairly. If anything, the system would allow them to squeeze him a lot harder.