Given a date on Thursday, the Denver Broncos will not qualify for the five-year option on linebacker Shane Ray's contract, several sources told ESPN and confirmed several reports.
Ray, who was the Broncos first round in 2015, had a sack when he completed the 2017 season on injured reserve after three wrist surgeries. The 2018 season will now be a proving campaign for Ray, as he will be an unrestricted free agent next March without a substantial change of heart by the team overnight.
The Broncos chose Bradley Chubb with the No. 5 design's pick. Chubb, who is considered the best defensive player in the draft, will line up outside the lineback and is expected to be fast in the lineup of the Broncos, perhaps even starter alongside Von Miller.
Saturday night, Broncos president of Football Operations / General Manager John Elway said he was "undecided" about whether the team would engage Ray's fifth year. By failing to do so, it will be the second time in the last three years that the Broncos have not added the fifth year to a former first-round selection.
The Broncos did not engage in fifth year for Nose Tackle Sylvester Williams, the team's first round of selection in 2013, which left for free agency after 2016 Last year, the Broncos engaged in fifth year for cornerback Bradley Roby, which is expected to replace Aqib Talib on the 2018 grid.
Ray's best year was statistically 2016, when he reshaped his off-season conditioning and said he also changed his diet, along with Miller and DeMarcu's Ware, Ray ended the season with eight sacks and 48 tackles.
The Broncos moved to Ray, who was the SEC's defensive player of the year in his final season in Missouri and placed 23rd in the 2015 draft.
