Ryan Clady, Broncos agree to long term contract

Ryan Clady has signed a five-year, $57.5 million contract with the Denver Broncos, reports Adam Schefter on Twitter. The team confirmed the length via their official Twitter. The contract reportedly has a base value of $52.5, with $33 million guaranteed. Clady, who played in 2012 on the last year of his rookie contract for $3.5 million, will be one of the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

Injury concerns have played in the background of the negotiations. Clady tore his patellar tendon in 2010 and had surgery on his shoulder following the 2012 season. Despite this, Clady has never missed a game for the Broncos and has given good reason for the team to have faith in his durability.

According to Mike Garafolo, the team feels good about talks and believes a contract agreement might be reached in that timeframe, taking their large star off of the franchise tag.

The two sides have been working towards a deal all offseason, with the expectation that Clady will command somewhere a tad north of $10 million per year. Should he eclipse $10.4 million, he would become the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL on an annual basis.