Broncos Free Agency: Team's big board heading into 2026 signing period
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Broncos Free Agency: Team's big board heading into 2026 signing period originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL free-agent market is about ready to kick off and soon, a frenzy of transactions will be hitting the national headlines. Fans within Broncos Country hope that it is their team that is making a lot of noise.
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The Broncos came within a few plays of reaching the Super Bowl this past season, but when Bo Nix went down with a broken ankle in the divisional round, it revealed an overall lack of offensive support on the team. The Broncos had no running game and no playmaker in the passing game to threaten a good defense.
That needs to be corrected ahead of the 2026 season, as the team has a wide-open Super Bowl window.
The Broncos still have one of the league's best defensive units and with Vance Joseph not being offered a head coaching job this offseason, there's no reason for that to be any different this coming season. The Broncos have their own free agents to make decisions on as well as several key positions of need.
This will serve as your guide to free agency for the team. What moves could be in front of the team? Which players are realistic targets? Which players should the team re-sign and which should be allowed to hit the open market? We have it all here.
Denver Broncos 2026 free agency big board
Players to re-sign
The Broncos have several players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, but they should only entertain bringing back some of them.
Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad, LB
It seems that the team will roll forward with Dre Greenlaw in 2026, but one of these players must be re-signed. It wouldn't be the worst idea to bring them both back as the position is thin, but either Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad should get a solid contract from the Broncos.
P.J. Locle, Safety
The Broncos have a good starting duo in Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, but P.J. Locke is an experienced backup who has played well in spot duty and is a stud on special teams.
J.K. Dobbins, RB
The most interesting free agent the Broncos have this offseason is running back J.K. Dobbins. If the Broncos sign a running back from the second tier, such as Rico Dowdle or Tyler Allgeier, then Dobbins should be brought back. However, if they sign a player like Kenneth Walker or Travis Etienne, there will be no room for him.
Players to let walk
John Franklin-Myers, DL
John Franklin-Myers is a great player and it will be a shame to see him leave Denver, but it is inevitably going to happen as he is due to get a huge contract from another team. He is just going to be too expensive to retain.
Positions to be addressed in free agency
Running Back
This might be the position Broncos fans most want to see the team address. The lack of an effective rushing attack was a big reason the team came up short of making the Super Bowl. Fortunately, there are a lot of good options.
Top names: Kenneth Walker (Seahawks), Travis Etienne (Jaguars)
Second Tier: Rico Dowdle, Tyler Allgeier
Lower Tier: J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White. Isaiah Pacheco, Najee Harris
Best move to make: Sign Allgeier, re-sign Dobbins
The Broncos would have to pay up for Walker or Etienne and both players figure to have strong markets. They could get a two-for-one value by signing the bruising Allgeier while giving Dobbins a chance to have a second season with the team. In that scenario, even if Dobbins' health fails him again, they still have a strong option to turn to in Allgeier while mixing in second-year runner RJ Harvey.
Under-the-radar signing: Jerome Ford
The Broncos really need to sign one of the bigger names at running back, but if they're looking to catch high value on a super cheap deal, Ford could be an option.
After rushing for 1,378 yards between 2023 and 2024, he was hardly used in Cleveland last season. That could mean he has plenty of fuel in the tank to make the most of the next season or two.
Wide Receiver
The wide receiver position has a lot of experienced veterans on the market, but there really isn't a name, at least at this point, that makes you stand up and shout.
Top names: Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel
Second Tier: Alec Pierce, Wan'dale Robinson, Rashid Shaheed
Lower Tier: Romeo Doubs, Darnell Mooney, Christian Kirk
Best move: Trade a first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle
The trade market for A.J. Brown is going to be too expensive, and signing any of the names above doesn't make a lot of sense. The Broncos need a true No. 1 wide receiver, one that can make big plays and open up the offense. This would allow Courtland Sutton to move into a No. 2 role, which is really what he has been throughout his career.
There's a question as to whether or not Waddle is even that kind of player, but he is still one of the fastest receivers in the league and has 373 receptions in five seasons.
Under-the-radar signing: Jahan Dotson
The Broncos already have a muddled receiver room, so there's no need to add many names to that mix, but Dotson is a former first-round pick who will only be 26 years old when the season starts. He could provide some experienced depth behind young players Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant.
Tight End
Top names: Travis Kelce, David Njoku, Dallas Goedert (Kelce won't be playing anywhere but Kansas City)
Second Tier: Cade Otton, Chig Okonkwo, Isaiah Likely
Lower Tier: Jonnu Smith, Will Dissly, Noah Fant
Best move: Sign Cade Otton
The Broncos have their own free agent in Adam Trautman and though he has been a Sean Payton guy for years, Otton is a major upgrade over him. The combination of run blocker and weapon in the passing game, the Broncos would get by signing him would be huge and it could allow Evan Engram to become much more valuable as well. This might be the best move the team could make in free agency overall.
Under-the-radar signing: Daniel Bellinger
Bellinger could do some of the same things as Otton, but on a much cheaper deal.
Defensive Line
This position is on the list due to the expected loss of Franklin-Myers. The Broncos have some depth behind him as they can turn to Sai'vion Jones, Eyioma Uwazurike or Jordan Jackson, or the team could go with Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach as its starters in 2026.
However, a replacement of some sort is going to be necessary.
Top names: Trey Hendrickson, Kwity Paye, Logan Hall
Second Tier: Cameron Jordan, A.J. Epenesa, Arden Key
Lower Tier: Kingsley Enagbare, Mike Danna, Calais Campbell
Best move: Sign Cameron Jordan
This is a move that makes sense, as Jordan played for Payton in New Orleans. The 15-year veteran has 132 career sacks and though his best days are behind him, he can still play. The Broncos could add him to their rotation and have an experienced player who knows how to get after the quarterback. However, would he take significantly less than Franklin-Myers would have?
Under-the-radar signing: Greg Gaines
Cheap and experienced. That's what all of these under-the-radar signings will be. Gaines has 14.5 career sacks while playing in seven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Inside Linebacker
The Broncos have two unrestricted free agents at this spot in Singleton and Strnad. However, there are some intriguing options even if they both get away. The question would become, which player or players would be the best fit for Joseph's defense?
Top names: Devin Lloyd, Bobby Okereke, Quincy Williams
Second Tier: Tremaine Edmunds, Kaden Elliss, Nakobe Dean
Lower Tier: Christian Rozeboom, Devin White, Logan Wilson
Best move: Re-sign Singleton and/or Strnad; sign Nakobe Dean if they only bring back one
Because of their familiarity with the system, bringing back Singleton or Strnad should be strongly considered. However, Singleton has struggled in pass defense, so if the team opts for a player outside of the organization, the younger and more athletic Dean would be a great signing.
Under-the-radar signing: Cole Holcomb
Holcomb is a seven-year veteran with nearly 500 career tackles. However, he is more of a rotational player rather than an every-down guy, so if the Broncos were to sign him, or someone on this level, they would need to strongly consider using their first-round pick on a player like CJ Allen out of Georgia, particularly if they lose Singleton, Strnad, or both.
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