If you're just waking up, Donald Stephenson is going to the Denver Broncos. The KC Star's Terez Paylor reported it on Tuesday night and it was quickly followed up with confirmations from all the national reporters. It's still a little unbelievable to me.
Stephenson, however, did well for himself. Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver has reported that Stephenson will be paid $5 million per year. I haven't seen yet for how many years the contract is but that's good money for Stephenson. How good? His rookie contract paid him $2.8 million ... total. Over four years.
$5 million per year is good money. The 9 News report is suggesting it's starter money, which it could be. Stephenson could replace Ryan Harris, coincidentally another former Chief. $5 million is a little more than I thought he would get but tackles, even ones who haven't started more than seven games in a season in their career, are paid well.
Jeff Allen has to be smiling seeing this money. His time is coming as well. The market opens at 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time).
I have no idea how Stephenson will do in Denver. I see some fans already upset and taking shots at Stephenson for how things turned out in Kansas City. However, go back to 2012 and 2013, before his suspension, and you see Stephenson's future was much brighter. This to me seems like a situation where a change of scenery is needed and Stephenson can turn it around.
I hope Stephenson is ready to go against No. 50 and No. 91 twice next season!