The Denver Broncos have tendered several of their key role players who are exclusive rights free agents ahead of Monday’s legal negotiating period.
Denver Broncos tender four role players on Friday
The Denver Broncos have tendered four of their key role players who were exclusive rights free agents, ensuring that they’ll be on the roster going into training camp and won’t hit free agency.
Safety Devon Key, outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, and running back Tyler Badie all plan on signing their tenders after the Broncos notified them on Friday. The moves were first reported by Mike Klis.
Key was a first-team All-Pro special teams ace and showcased his ability to fill in on defense, while Tillman returns to the fold for the Broncos’ extremely deep outside linebacker group.
Jackson didn’t have as much playing time in 2025, but internally, the Broncos like his developmental path, and he’ll have a chance to compete with Eyioma Uwazurike and second-year player Sai’vion Jones for a potential starting job this summer as all signs point to Denver not re-signing John Franklin-Myers, who is expected to command a strong market in free agency.
Key will return to the mix and could see an elevated role on defense if the Broncos don’t re-sign P.J. Locke, who will become an unrestricted free agent beginning Wednesday.
Badie will return this summer and will likely have competition for a roster spot in camp. He was viewed as the Broncos’ best two-minute back and was their perceived best blocker in pass pro situations. The Broncos hardly utilized him on the ground as a rusher, and if he remains on the roster in 2026, that needs to change, and he’s more than capable of being an impact rusher — he just hasn’t had the right opportunities to do so.
Tillman’s return is one of the biggest, considering he was one of their best pass rushers last season, coming up with four sacks while playing 37% of the defensive snaps last season.