At 10am MT on Monday, the Denver Broncos and the rest of the NFL enter the legal tampering period where they are allowed to engage in talks to acquire free agents prior to the start of the new NFL league year on Wednesday at 2pm MT.
On Sunday, the Broncos were busy, quietly signing Justin Strnad, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, and Sam Ehlinger to extensions while signaling a desire to also do so with Alex Singleton. Denver also restructured Quinn Meinerz’s contract to free up $11 million in cap space.
With the exception of Meinerz, it would be wise for Broncos Country not to get too attached.
Right now, we are smack dab in the middle of the timeframe where players are signed and then blindsided in free agency or the draft. Remember when the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins and then then turned right around and drafted Michael Penix, Jr. in 2024?
The signings that happened on Sunday weren’t the sexy must-gets that Broncos fans fantasized about following the Broncos disappointing showing in the AFC Championship game. They were necessary though. Denver is shoring up the areas of need, plugging holes if you will, in advance of free agency and the draft.
Don’t love the Ehlinger signing? How do you feel about the Broncos steering clear of burning that annual 7th round pick for a QB who will never sniff the field? Extending the backup quarterback now frees up that late-draft pick for other things.
The last thing the Broncos want to do is have their hand forced in an area of absolute need when they have an opportunity to land a game-changer. By signing all these familiar faces, Denver has the freedom and flexibility to be bold and aggressive once the 2026 league year opens. Sure, one or more of the names that signed extensions on Sunday will likely get Michael Penix’d, but that’s football.
With Sunday’s flurry of action, the Broncos look to be in solid shape entering the 2026 season. That’s great news, because what happens in the coming weeks with free agency and the draft won’t just define the Broncos this season, but will will shape the narrative of the Denver Broncos for years to come.
No pressure.
