The two-year contract extension that defensive end Kevin Vickerson received from the Denver Broncos last week includes a $1 million signing bonus and is worth $2.375 million per season, a league source said Tuesday.
Vickerson, who signed the deal Thursday, will make a $1 million base salary in 2011 with a $375,000 roster bonus. In 2012, he will make $2 million in base salary with a $375,000 roster bonus. In total, he could receive $4.75 million over the course of the deal.
Vickerson, 28, is viewed as a building block while the Broncos revamp their defensive line. Last week, the team released veteran linemen Justin Bannan and Jamal Williams in cost-cutting moves.
Vickerson had 42 tackles and two sacks last season.
"We would really have been worried if we hadn't got Vickerson signed, but hopefully we still get a chance to talk to Jamal and Bannan down the way," Broncos chief of football operations John Elway said at a breakfast attended by 1,200 business leaders Tuesday at Pepsi Center. "But we have to see how this whole thing unravels. We're still waiting in limbo, and hopefully, we'll get a (new labor) deal this Friday."
Vickerson is coming off his best season and projects well in the 4-3 defensive scheme the Broncos are going back to after employing a 3-4 look the last two years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
