In just a few short weeks, the NFL offseason will begin in early March with this year’s free agency period. Currently sitting with roughly $30 million in cap space, but with extreme flexibility to create more, the Denver Broncos appear poised to be aggressive if they so choose to be. With that in mind, I would like to offer my thoughts on what would be a dream free agency period for the Broncos. Feel free to share your wish list in the comments section.
Bolster the offense in free agency: Upgrade the tight end and running back rooms
A lot of Broncos Country would love to see Denver
go all-in and find a way to notch themselves a premier receiver. However, that may be tough to navigate. A bidding war in a slim free agent crop may not be a smart way to do business. Moreover, it remains to be seen if Denver wants to trade off top-tier capital and give a large contract to any of the players potentially available in that avenue.
Nevertheless, there are reasonable routes to take to make the offense more consistent and efficient in 2026. Finding upgrades at running back and tight end would be a big first step for the Broncos. Over the past two weeks, our staff has authored pieces on several running backs like Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, Tyler Allgeier, and Brian Robinson Jr.
Each would be good additions to the room. However, there’s no doubt some offer more versatility and playmaking power than others. The first three mentioned would be splash additions—I’d love to see Etienne in Denver. Though if the Broncos are more cap conscious, Allgeier would provide the Broncos with a player who could make an immediate impact on early downs and increase their productivity in the short game at an affordable rate. I believe Robinson Jr. would also help in that regard too. My dream? One of the best, but I’d be fine with the other two options as well.
Additionally, Denver certainly needs to come away with a tight end in free agency. The production and output from that position group in 2025 was amongst the worst in the NFL last season and has been a problem for several years in a row. It’s simply an area Denver has to get better at. Specifically, a Y who can be a reliable safety valve option for Bo Nix but also help with blocking to bolster their rushing attack.
Cade Otton is a player I’ve wrote about and am high on. Another option who fits that mold is Dallas Goedert, who has been a productive player since entering the league in 2018. At 30 years old, he certainly isn’t a long-term upgrade for Denver, though would help address the present need for a season. There are a lot of fans that would like to see Kyle Pitts or David Njoku pursued, but I’m not really sure they offer the blocking chops or prowess necessary to make waves in heavier personnel groupings Head Coach Sean Payton is hoping to implement more of in ‘26.
Continuity on defense: Attempt to keep the team’s biggest strength intact
The Broncos have sported two consecutive seasons on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph and his players have come a long way since having 70 points dropped on them by the Miami Dolphins three years ago. Without question, it’s been the most consistent side of the ball over the last two years and gives them the opportunity to compete at a high level moving forward.
Two big-time players I’d like to see Denver retain are Ja’Quan McMillian and John Franklin-Myers. They have been a huge part of the success here and are very underrated playmakers. Sure, there is a salary cap, but as mentioned above, Denver can great creative and make ample space to accommodate extensions to these two players—alongside making some of the additions on offense I mentioned earlier.
Even though Denver has depth at corner and on the defensive line, McMillian and Franklin-Myers are two strong performers that deserve pay raises. The Broncos have a multi-year Super Bowl window. I think keeping these guys in the fold would be wise and help maximize it. It’s hard to imagine they would find better replacements on the market if they didn’t. For whatever its worth, I’m not so sure Sai’vion Jones is ready to take a major leap in snap share in Year 2 to alleviate a potential loss of JFM.
Embracing tough decisions: Forging a new vision at inside linebacker
This is a bit of a divergence from the point above, but one that simply comes out of necessity. Both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, two mainstays at inside linebacker over the past few seasons are scheduled to hit free agency. A part of me feels it would be wise for them to keep at least one—especially when it comes to both having a high operating knowledge of the scheme itself.
However, a big part of me wants to see that room revamped and perhaps revitalized. Both are great leaders with a strong locker room presence. Their heart and tenacity can’t be questioned and will be tough to replace. Though I think fans have reasonably come to see some deficiencies both have with respect to their game that have been visible for a few years in a row now—particularly in coverage.
This year’s free agency period seems to be strong. Players like Devin Lloyd, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Quincy Williams, Leo Chenal, and Kaden Elliss could all be targets for the Broncos. Spending big at off-ball linebacker may not be something most want to consider, but bringing in different talent to the outside that could make the defense even stronger would be wise to consider.
