Free agency is all about making big splashes. Year after year, the top players on the market get mega-deals that set the new contractual records in the NFL. A handful of blockbusters hit the waves yesterday, but the Denver Broncos weren’t one of the teams making the headlines. In fact, they were one of only a handful of franchises that didn’t make an outside addition.
Aggressiveness was a theme both Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton discussed over the course of the offseason.
However, each discussed the importance of continuity and a desire to keep and retain the players that helped them reach the AFC Championship game last season. Based on their early endeavors, keeping their in-house group of talent was the priority opposed to shelling out the big bucks at the advent of the legal tampering period.
Was that the right call the make? Should Broncos Country be hitting the panic button because of that? Let’s dig into some of the details about the moves Denver has done thus far.
The floor of potential remains the same at running back
One area many analysts thought Denver would make a big investment at was running back. The Broncos were reportedly in on former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. However, the former Clemson standout headed back to the bayou to be close to home and earned a four-year, $52 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. With Kenneth Walker III and other top backs signing elsewhere, Denver opted to bring back J.K. Dobbins on a two-year deal.
Dobbins’ extension comes in at $20 million in max potential value [$16 million before incentives] with $8 million guaranteed. That’s quite the raise even though he missed almost half of last season. More than what Tyler Allgeier received from the Arizona Cardinals. Your mileage may vary, but I’d have preferred Allgeier at $12.5 million over two years as opposed to the contract above for Dobbins.
Averaging five yards per carry last season in 10 games, he was an effective early down runner for the offense. Unfortunately, a mid-season injury derailed the rest of his season. In turn, the Broncos’ running game faded down the stretch when they needed it the most.
The hope—perhaps a fleeting one—is that Dobbins can bounce back and be a healthy, impact contributor for Denver in 2026. Though his lengthy injury history suggests that is highly unlikely. Look for the Broncos to round out their running back stable by making an addition somewhere in the Top 100 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. They have to or else the run the risk of the running game stalling out late in the season for a third consecutive year.
The bandits are back for the Broncos at inside linebacker
One desire that was prevalent across Broncos Country leading up to free agency was turning a new leaf at inside linebacker. However, the Broncos shelled out a three-year extension to Justin Strnad and a two-year deal to Alex Singleton—keeping Denver’s top two linebackers from last season in the fold as they gear up for the 2026 season. The odd man out was Dre Greenlaw, who was released after a disappointing and injury plagued season.
Is this an ideal outcome for Denver? Only time will tell. I felt there were multiple players available in free agency that would have been upgrades. Nevertheless, Broncos fans should have taken Paton at his word when he said the team wanted them both back at the NFL Combine. Continuity matters to the front office.
I’ll say this though, the Broncos retaining Strand and Singleton should not preclude them from considering addressing the room long-term early on in the 2026 NFL Draft. If Singleton regresses, the nature of his deal would allow Denver to get out of after next season. Though they would incur a bit more dead money than they would save in the process.
It’s far too early to know who will be on board, but players like C.J. Allen, Anthony Hill Jr., and Jacob Rodriguez would be great fits for the team. They would be good early picks for Denver, but it’s a deep class to with guys who sport starting traits in potential well into Day 2 and early Day 3.
John Franklin-Myers departs for the Tennessee Titans
While running it back was a major theme for Denver, one of their key players headed off for greener pastures. Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers earned himself a three-year deal worth $63 million with $42 million in guarantees. A well-deserved payday for the versatile trench player who pieced together the best seasons of his career the past two seasons with the Broncos.
As of now, Franklin-Myers’ departure should net Denver a fourth-round compensatory selection in the 2027 NFL Draft. However, that could potentially be cancelled out if they wind up making a big move in the coming days.
What to expect moving forward from the Broncos in free agency
I get the feeling most fans are underwhelmed from what the Broncos have done thus far. “Denver is getting the band back together!” may not be the most exciting thing. But folks—it’s still early in the process. The front office will certainly make outside additions to the roster.
It’s also important to keep in mind Denver has extended a lot of players over the past few offseasons. A lot of the major groundwork for next year’s roster and future years has already been done. Patrick Surtain, Quinn Meinerz, Zach Allen, and Jonathon Cooper are just a few that come to mind. Other contracts, like those for Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, seem to be quite favorable given the magnitude of some deals being reported yesterday.
The recent seismic shift in retaining their own homegrown talent isa big divergence from the John Elway era. It’s a most welcome one as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Denver give out a few more in-house deals over the course of the offseason as well. That could very well be a priority over outside additions.
Though without question, several new players will be coming to the Mile High City. Who will they be? I can’t wait to find out. All things considered, there is no reason to hit the panic button yet. Just let the process play out and enjoy the ride. The Broncos are going to get better—no doubt about it.
