The legal tampering period for free agency begins tomorrow. Mile High Report’s Christopher Hart gives his best guess as to what the Denver Broncos might do in free agency.
The NFL’s free agency period officially kicks off on March 12th. However, the legal tampering period where teams and players can come to terms begins two days earlier.
Most certainly, the Denver Broncos are finalizing their plans on how to approach this year’s talent available on the open market. While the team has ample salary cap space available now and certainly in years down the road, Paton spoke about the importance of being measured in free agency. The doesn’t necessarily preclude them from making large investments.
In fact, I would expect in-house extensions for players like Courtland Sutton, Zach Allen, and Nik Bonitto to take place. Maybe not all of them, but perhaps two of the three may be figured out in the coming days. But being measured should signal the idea they might be more conservative adding outside additions compared to years prior.
Over the past several weeks, Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton have given hints relative to where the team needs to add players.
On offense, both have repeated their desires to find the mystical joker—a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses that can elevate. It’s not often those players are available in free agency, so I’m not so sure they are going to come away with one there. Though I do expect them to add some depth at tight end and receiver.
On defense, inside linebacker and safety sit atop the wish list. However, with nose tackle D.J. Jones set to hit free agency, finding another defensive lineman capable of playing at least 40-percent of the team’s defensive snaps next season is essential if they can’t come to terms on an extension.
Listed below is my ‘mock’ free agency period prediction for the Broncos. Feel free to give yours in the comments section and critique mine.
Free Agent Additions on Offense
This is a prediction that might ruffle some feathers. Less than 15-percent of those who voted in the poll in Jones’ free agent profile wanted him to become a Bronco.
Do I think the Broncos should draft a back in this year’s class? Most certainly. However, they are truly looking at revamping their top 1-2 punch in their stable for the 2025 season. Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin accounted for nearly 350 touches on offense last season. Even though I’m very high on a lot of backs in this class, there are probably only a handful who are truly ready for that type of workload.
Having a veteran like Jones in the mix is essential. He’s an excellent receiver out of the backfield and still one of the best in the National Football League in that regard. He’s also a pretty good running back despite the age.
Reading the tea leaves isn’t too hard here. Johnson was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints. He knows Sean’s system and would give the Broncos a decently productive player at a fair price point. Though the addition of Johnson in free agency shouldn’t preclude the Broncos from utilizing one of their top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on a prospect at the position. It’s still a huge long-term need for them.
Bo Nix is the franchise’s quarterback of the future, but they will need to spend on a backup this offseason. Jarrett Stidham has been the backup for the past two seasons. He’s learned Payton’s system and has operable knowledge of it. I think that matters. While I do prefer Zach Wilson, my gut tells me he might head elsewhere and sign a more lucrative deal than the Broncos are willing to dish out for a backup. That’s why I feel they will likely bring back Stidham and perhaps draft a developmental prospect on Day 3 to coach up as a future backup to Nix.
Free Agent Additions on Defense
Teair Tart — Defensive Lineman
If the Broncos aren’t able to come to terms with veteran nose tackle D.J. Jones, they will have to find a replacement in the market. Some analysts have suggested Poona Ford as a target for Denver, though his price point might be a bit higher than what the franchise is willing to spend. I’ll gladly take his teammate Teair Tart who is one of the better run stuffing tackles in the NFL.
Jamien Sherwood — Inside Linebacker
Nick Bolton was one of our staff’s favorite picks for a player to be signed at inside linebacker. I wouldn’t necessarily mind it, but I think Jamien Sherwood might be a more cost-effective option. He is a good blitzer, which is important for Vance Joseph’s defense, and is also a quality player in coverage.
This year’s free agent safety class isn’t too shabby. The Broncos struck gold signing Brandon Jones last offseason, and he was one of the better players on a stack defense. It’s expected the team will bring in another veteran to compete against P.J. Locke for a starting role. I’m not sure they will be in on some of the bigger names. I’d love Camyrn Bynum from the Minnesota Vikings, but he could command more than $14 million a year on the market. If that’s the case, pivoting to former Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon might not be such a bad idea. He is better in pass coverage than run defense but has the versatility to line up as a deep safety in single-high coverage, in the slot, or even in the box.
Other thoughts on the Broncos’ FA endeavors
One position group I didn’t make a prediction on above, but I feel the Broncos will wind up addressing is wide receiver. A name to watch would be Allen Lazard. The Jets gave him permission to seek a trade earlier in the week. I don’t think Denver would be interested in picking up his $11 million dollar a year contract.
However, if he is cut [which seems likely], there probably would be interest from Denver. He was rumored to be a part of a potential trade for former wide receiver Jerry Jeudy last spring. Ultimately that deal didn’t happen and Jeudy wound up being traded to the Cleveland Browns. We all know Payton likes big wide receivers and Lazard fits that mold.
On top of that, I feel that the biggest news will come on the in-house extension front. It’s just a guess, but I think extensions to Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto will big the biggest moves Denver makes this next week. But who really knows for sure? We will all just have to tune in and find out.