For the second straight year, the Denver Broncos used the NFL Draft to land a starter in defensive end John Franklin-Myers.
Last year, Denver traded a 6th-round pick for tight end Adam Trautman. This year, the Broncos sent a 6th-round pick from the 2026 draft for Franklin-Myers.
The trade gives Sean Payton’s defensive line a boost and adds to their No. 76 pick of EDGE Jonah Elliss from Utah. Payton and George Paton have done well to address needs with almost every pick this year, and this trade fills a void up front as well.
John Franklin-Myers is a trusted veteran starter and disruptor
Franklin-Myers was originally drafted by the LA Rams in the 4th round of the 2018 draft. In 2020, he landed in New York with the Jets, and was moved from defensive tackle to defensive end.
And the last three years, he’s been a full-time starter in the Jets defensive front, which has been one of the most-feared as of late.
During his time as a starter, Franklin-Myers totaled 14.5 sacks and 48 QB hits with the Jets.
Check out this bullrush sack of Josh Allen with one hand:
John Franklin-Myers rushes with power and gets to the QB for the sack. Keepnit simple, keep it violent! #passrush #nyjets pic.twitter.com/0i1RXEw5dO
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) September 12, 2023
Here, he knocks the right tackle’s hands away and speeds around him for a sack:
True or False?
John Franklin-Myers will have his first 10+ sack season in 2022?
(Pssst…it’s true) pic.twitter.com/TjNTzWrVxo
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) June 20, 2022
He doesn’t just sack opposing quarterbacks, either. Franklin-Myers has enjoyed four straight seasons of 50-plus QB pressures:
John Franklin-Myers is coming off his fourth straight 50+ pressure season.
The Denver Broncos have only had three players cross that threshold in the same timespan. I am so happy.— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) April 27, 2024
According to Mike Clay’s pre-draft unit grades of every team, the Broncos needed help at quarterback, EDGE, safety, wide receiver, and tight end. They addressed that EDGE spot with Elliss, and even though he’ll play inside Elliss, Franklin-Myers helps on that previously weak defensive line.
Denver’s new defensive end has already restructured his contract
Anytime a team can trade away a future, late-round draft pick for a starter it’s a win. And the good news just keeps coming because Franklin-Myers has already restructured his contract with the Broncos.
He signed a four-year, $55 million deal with New York before last year. But now he’ll be paid only a fraction of that, at two years for a mere $15M. $10M of the deal is guaranteed.
Sources: John Franklin-Myers and the #Broncos have agreed to a new two-year, $15M deal as part of the trade from the Jets. The deal will pay a total of $10M guaranteed, including $8M fully guaranteed at signing and $4M signing bonus. pic.twitter.com/zhYye0dFmi
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 27, 2024
A starting defensive end at only $7.5M AAV is a great value for the Broncos, who are trying to field a competitive team despite all the dead cap from Russell Wilson’s deal.
A guess at the Broncos starting depth chart has Franklin-Myers starting next to DJ Jones, and opposite Zach Allen. The starting edge rushers are Baron Browning and Jonathan Cooper. Though, there will be competition from Elliss, Nik Bonitto and others at EDGE.
The Broncos are still in the process of finishing their 2024 draft at the time of this publishing.