The Denver Broncos find themselves in a position going into the offseason where they can be aggressive in NFL Free Agency if they want to. They have a handful of key players that should be re-signed, and there will be a handful of players at other positions of need that they could add to upgrade their roster.
Denver Broncos NFL Free Agency outlook
The Denver Broncos have 21 players on their roster who are set to be either unrestricted, restricted, or exclusive rights free agents when the new league year rolls around on March 11 at 2:00 p.m. MT.
Broncos unrestricted free agent overview
11 of Denver’s 21 free agents are set to be unrestricted, which means that their agent can begin discussions with Denver or other teams in what is called the legal negotiating period, which begins on March 9.
Headlining Denver’s list of unrestricted free agents are linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strand, defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, safety P.J. Locke, and running back J.K. Dobbins.
Tight end Adam Trautman, quarterback Sam Ehlinger, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, tight end Marcedes Lewis, offensive lineman Sam Mustipher, and fullback Michael Burton will also be unrestricted.
From a priority standpoint, the Broncos will likely look at Alex Singleton as one of their top in-house candidates. Singleton was Denver’s leading tackler this season with 135, right ahead of Talanoa Hufanga.
Strnad was one of the Broncos best linebackers this past season, but he’s looking for a starting job, rightfully so. It’s unclear what the Broncos’ plan is at linebacker going forward, with Singleton’s pending free agency and Dre Greenlaw’s injury history that has impacted his availability.
Franklin-Myers has expressed the desire to stay in Denver, but the team did not initiate any discussions with him or his agent during the season.
Locke wants to stay in Denver and has been a veteran staple of the defense, having been on the roster since 2019, but that will ultimately be the Broncos’ call, although the veteran safety could garner interest from several teams around the league. Keep an eye on the Dallas Cowboys with Christian Parker landing there as their defensive coordinator.
Unrestricted free agents
- Linebacker Alex Singleton
- Linebacker Justin Strnad
- Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers
- Quarterback Sam Ehlinger
- Running back J.K. Dobbins
- Safety P.J. Locke,
- Tight end Marcedes Lewis
- Offensive lineman Sam Mustipher
- Fullback Michael Burton
- Wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Tight end Adam Trautman
Predictions:
- Alex Singleton – signs elsewhere.
- Justin Strnad – re-signs in Denver on three-year deal.
- John Franklin-Myers – signs elsewhere.
- Sam Ehlinger – signs elsewhere.
- J.K. Dobbins – signs elsewhere.
- P.J. Locke – re-signs in Denver on two-year deal.
- Marcedes Lewis – retires.
- Sam Mustipher – signs elsewhere.
- Michael Burton – signs elsewhere.
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey – signs elsewhere.
- Adam Trautman – re-signs in DEN on one-year deal.
Broncos restricted free agent overview
The Broncos have six players who are restricted free agents beginning on March 11.
Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, running back Jaleel McLaughlin, defensive end Matt Henningsen, tight end Lucas Krull, tight end Nate Adkins, and offensive lineman Alex Palczewski are all restricted free agents, which means that they can negotiate and sign with other teams, but the Broncos can extend qualifying tenders to these players with the right of first refusal.
Here is a detailed list of the tenders that teams can offer players and what they mean, courtesy of the NFL’s operation site.
- First-round tender: One-year contract worth the greater of (a) $7.458 million or (b) 110 percent of the player’s prior-year base salary. If the player’s original team decides not to match an offer sheet signed with another team, it is entitled to a first-round draft pick from his new team. Unless received two days or later prior to the NFL Draft, draft compensation for each tender is due in the same League Year as the offer sheet is signed.A signed offer sheet with a new team includes Principal Terms that must be matched by the prior club. However, if the new team includes a term(s) that waives or limits its ability to designate the RFA a franchise player in the future, the prior team will not have to match this term if it has tendered the player with an offer worth $500,000 more than the first-round tender ($7.458 million in 2025).
- Second-round tender: One-year contract worth the greater of (a) $5.346 million or (b) 110 percent of the player’s prior-year base salary. Draft-choice compensation: second-round pick.
- Original-round tender: One-year contract worth the greater of (a) $3.406 million or (b) 110 percent of the player’s prior-year base salary. Draft-choice compensation: a pick in the round the player was originally drafted in.
- Right-of-first-refusal tender: One-year contract worth $3.263 million. Team has the right to match any offer sheet signed with another team, but there is no draft compensation tied to this tender.
- Upgraded Tender: If a team places a first-round tender on a player who was selected outside of the first round, it can only receive a second-round pick as compensation for any of its other RFAs who were first-round draft picks. The same is true for the second-round tender—if a team uses it on a player drafted in the third round or lower, it can only receive a third-round pick for any other second-round RFA it intends to tender.
McMillian is a strong candidate to receive a contract extension this offseason after the incredible year he had at the nickel. He emerged as one of the Broncos most important players on an already loaded defense.
Palczewski had an important offensive role before Frank Crum upended him as the jumbo-package option, while Palcho was filling in at left guard after Ben Powers injury. From a depth and developmental standpoint, he’s a strong No. 2 option at guard and tackle and will likely be back.
Adkins is another interesting option to watch for, but the Broncos need to revamp the tight end position to be more than just an extension of the run game. His special teams impact is a big reason they’ll also look to bring him back.
McLaughlin didn’t get enough touches this season, and he should have. He may get the opportunity to succeed elsewhere in free agency.
Broncos RFAs
- Running back Jaleel McLaughlin
- Tight end Lucas Krull
- Tight end Nate Adkins
- Defensive lineman Matt Henningsen
- Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian
- Offensive lineman Alex Palczewski
Predictions:
- Jaleel McLaughlin – gets opportunity to shine somewhere else.
- Lucas Krull – will not be tendered, sign elsewhere.
- Nate Adkins – returns to DEN.
- Matt Henningsen – does not return.
- Ja’Quan McMillian – three year contract extension.
- Alex Palczewski – will return.
Broncos exclusive rights free agents
The Broncos have four players who are listed as exclusive rights free agents, which gives the team more flexibility in retaining their services. An ERFA is “any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.”
Out of the four players, two of them are key contributors who need to stick around in 2026.
Safety Devon Key, outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, and running back Tyler Badie make up the players who are ERFAs.
Key and Tillman should be the two players who have high priority in returning, while the Broncos should let Badie and Jackson look for other opportunities elsewhere.
Broncos ERFAs
- Running back Tyler Badie
- Safety Devon Key
- Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman
- Defensive lineman Jordan Jackson
Predictions:
- Tyler Badie – does not return.
- Devon Key – returns, extension.
- Dondrea Tillman – returns.
- Jordan Jackson – does not return.
Key is an extension candidate after his terrific season that saw him take home first-team All-Pro honors for his 26 special teams tackles, which set a new franchise record. He’s also an important depth piece at the safety position, with a trajectory where he could potentially start in the future.
Tillman was one of the Broncos best rotational players on defense this past season behind Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto.