The Denver Broncos have a handful of in-house players who are looking for extensions. I asked the Mile High Report crew how they would prioritize such.
The first three installments of our NFL Free Agency Roundtable discussions are in the books. We’ve had discussions on how the Denver Broncos should approach free agency, players they should sign, and players they should avoid signing on the open market.
For our final discussion, I wanted to pivot away from outside additions and focus on how the franchise should approach taking care of business with in-house players.
According to various reports, several high-profile players are seeking extensions from their current deals. Those include wide receiver Courtland Sutton, defensive lineman Zach Allen, and edge rusher Nik Bonitto who are all in the final years of their current contracts. Without question, all three were important to the franchise’s success last season.
However, it’s unknown whether or not the Broncos will be backing up the Brinks’ truck for all three this offseason. That’s why I wanted to ask the Mile High Report staff how they would prioritize such potential in-house extensions. Take a look and see!
A majority of the staff believes Zach Allen deserves priority
Most all the staff at Mile High Report believe that defensive lineman Zach Allen should be the first in line for a lucrative extension. It was almost unanimous. A surprise to me, some felt a few other players were more deserving to be extended than Courtland Sutton.
Ross Allen
Zach Allen has to be at the top of the list. He is such a game breaker, and the Broncos don’t have much when it comes to interior defensive linemen right now. Pay that man whatever he wants. After him they’d be wise to lock up Nik Bonitto. And I know he’s not a big name like these previous two, but re-signing Quinn Bailey to a one or two-year contract is something I’d like Denver to do.
Ian St. Clair
Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto are at the top of the list. Both were tone setters for this defense and proved their worth last season. As for Sutton, the Broncos don’t have many options at receiver so they may not have a choice but to extend him. So, it’ll be interesting to see what Denver does at the receiver position in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, if anything.
Christopher Hart
Allen leads the way for me. The current rumor suggestion is $25 million per season on a new deal. That would be a Top 5 contract at the position, but certainly well-deserved after his All-Pro season where he was one of the best defenders in the National Football League. In a few years down the road, it will look like a bargain.
After that? I’d probably go with Bonitto. He was one of the players I pegged as a breakout candidate in 2024, and he didn’t disappoint. However, I am looking for him to become much better in run defense. That’s still an area he struggles in.
Sutton would rank third for me. I think he has a few good years left in the tank and keeping him in the fold would be a smart decision. I’m just not sure what type of number he is looking at. I have a feeling some of these wide receiver contracts are going to get wild over the next week of events.
Scotty Payne
For me it’s Allen, Bonitto, then Sutton.
Adam Malnati
It’s Allen and Bonitto, then Sutton. John Franklin-Myers is also high on the list.
John Holmes
Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto, John Franklin-Myers, then Ja’Quan McMillian. They are all relatively young and vastly more affordable now than they will be next year. Either Bonitto or Allen would be worth a franchise tag, but getting those deals done sooner than later is going to be better for the team.
Frankin-Myers and McMillian are potentially very cheap up extend, and when I mock out the draft, I do not see the Broncos having picks to spend developing at their positions. So, extensions could be in everyone’s best interest. I do not believe extending Sutton makes sense.
Two had Allen first but weren’t so keen on offering Bonitto an extension yet
After that, Nik Bonitto seemed to be the consensus number two. However, there are several staff members who are concerned about last year’s season being a flash in the pan and would like to see another successful season before the franchise decides to extend him.
Taylor Kothe
Zach Allen is easily tops for me as well, followed by D.J. Jones. Nik Bonitto is a hard one for me at this point in time. The reported $23 million a year ballpark feels rich for a guy with one double digit sack season, especially considering the rather unique and blitz-heavy approach Vance Joseph took to help generate that sack production in 2024. I’ve long felt that that approach is highly vulnerable to regression and historically, defenses fluctuate a lot year to year.
Due to that, I’d honestly rather see the Broncos let Bonitto ride out the last year of his rookie deal. Then we can tag him if necessary next offseason. If we end up paying several million per year more after a second dominant season in a row (or get a great comp pick while Jonah Elliss steps up), that’s still better than locking up him at the amount above only to potentially find out his 2024 season was a flash in the pan.
Mike DeCicco
Zach Allen is easily number one. Regarding Nik Bonitto, I want to see him do it a second time before the Broncos splash the cash his way. I love Courtlan Sutton, but I hope he’s replaceable by the end of the year as a young guy emerges.
Though one staff member thought Nik Bonitto was most deserving
Tim Lynch
I think Nik Bonitto is the only guy I can think of to extend right now. He proved to have big play moxie and with more time will develop more consistent pass rush ability.
How about you, Broncos Country? What would your in-house extension candidate priority list look like? Feel free to sound off in the comments section and let us know.