February 17 – Franchise tag window opens-

March 3 – Franchise tag window closes

February 23 – NFL scouting combine

March 9 – Legal tampering window opens

March 11 – New league year begins, free agency officially opens

Broncos country is POd that the Broncos didn’t make the Super Bowl They blame HC Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix’s ankle for their failure. They are hyper about unrealistically spending money and bringing in high dollar free agents to get over the hump. While Denver doesn’t have the most cap space, it appears to be in a better position than the rest of the AFC right now. Denver has no reason not to be aggressive in adding talent this off season. They need an efficient run game which means adding a top RB1. They need a game-changing pass-catcher to help out Bo Nix. And, they need to keep and add talent to the defensive in free agency or the draft.

Presently, it seems like Payton wants to bring back RB JK Dobbins. Broncos country is not happy at standing pat with the ILBs (Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad). It appears that John Franklin Myers will be allowed to walk (but Denver will not be as good without him) in hopes that the duo of Eyioma Uwazurike and Sai'vion Jones can replace him. They have no such hope at ILB. With that in mind, how Denver handles free agency will determine what they do in the draft.

Heading into the 2026 NFL off season, the Denver Broncos had several key players hitting the market. They could have gone with free agents, but instead ran it back with their own players on the first day (over pay day) of free agency. While they were in on some free agents, they had a price line they would not cross based on their evaluations of those players.

Coaches Fired secondary coach Addison Lynch. Added Ronald Curry as wide receivers coach. Added Doug Belk as defensive backs coach. Added Robert Livingston as defensive pass game coordinator. Added John Morton as pass game coordinator.

Combine If their lips are moving, they’re lying. That’s the thing to remember at this time of year. Payton and Paton are a well honed team like Abbott and Costello. They react to the way the other one says the lines. Denver’s early interviews has been heavily ILB and TE. Later Linebackers: Josiah Trotter, Missouri; Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh; Taurean York, Texas A&M; Bryce Boettcher, Oregon and Keyshaun Elliot, Arizona State. Early Defensive Tackles: Caleb Banks, Florida; Peter Woods, Clemson: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State; Lee Hunter, Texas Tech: and Christien Miller, Georgia. TEs with formal meetings: Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon); Oscar Delp (Georgia); Max Klare (Ohio State); Joe Royer (Cincinnati); Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt) RBs: Jadarian Price (Notre Dame); Jonah Coleman (Washington); Emmett Johnson (Nebraska) Denver Draft Picks

Round 1, Pick 30;

Round2, Pick 62;

Round 3, Pick 94;

Round 4, Pick 108 received from the Saints Devaughn Vele to New Orleans;

Round 4, Pick 130;

Round 5, Pick 168;

The Broncos have no sixth-round pick, sent to the New York Jets in the trade for DL John Franklin-Myers;

Round 7, Pick 246;

Round 7, Pick 251 (Comp) RB Javonte Williams;

Round 7, Pick 255 (Comp) punter Riley Dixon.

Placed the 2nd-round tender on CB Ja'Quan McMillian. Not tendering RB Jaleel McLaughlin. Re-signed ILB Justin Strnad. Extended OL Alex Palczewski. Re-signed QB Sam Ehlinger. Signed TEs Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins. Tendered: S Devon Key, OLB Dondrea Tillman, RB Tyler Badie and DL Jordan Jackson. Signed OLB Alex Singleton. Cut ILB Dre Greenlaw (Post June 1). Signed RB JK Dobbins. Lost S PJ Locke to Dallas and DL John Franklin Myers to Tennessee. Signed FB Adam Prentice. Signed DE Matt Hennsingsen. Signed TE Lucas Krull. Signed WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey. NOTE: Some of these draft depth signings may not make the final roster. The Broncos are dealing with the devil they know with all their resignings.

IMO, the Broncos needed to use free agency to sign good veterans for their Super Bowl run. That would mean overhauling the LB and TE rooms, adding a game changing WR, and re-signing JK Dobbins and drafting a power back or Dobbins like running back to fill in when Dobbins misses games. RB Jonah Coleman would be an ideal backup and eventual successor to Dobbins. Other options include: Jadarian Price; Emmett Johnson: Le’Veon Moss (injury concerns); and Mike Washington, Jr.. Denver, however, has chosen to maintain the status quo as the legal tampering period has begun. Perhaps, this shouldn’t have been a surprise as owner Greg Penner is a draft and develop and resign your own guys owner which fits more with the George Paton approach of more darts and adhering to price points. But Broncos Country is seriously upset! However, Paton is a value shopper and loves his draft picks. Nothing is off the table for Denver except the over priced players. You either Bo-lieve or you don’t. You either trust the Broncos brain trust or you don’t. There are still values and upgrades available after the legal tampering period.

Players to consider rounds 1&2 in the draft: 1. (ILB)Anthony Hill Jr. or C.J. Allen (Modern ILBs with side-line-to side line speed to cover AFCs TEs). 2. DLs Domonique Orange ("Big Citrus" a 325lb run stuffer) or Lee Hunter.

Orangeman’s Take

The Broncos have a serious two year Super Bowl window or Payton is unlikely to win one in Denver. As Super Bowl contenders, Denver needed to upgrade every position with an eye to winning the Super Bowl. Thus far, they have opted to run it back with their own players who have more value (culture and fit) to the Broncos than they would anywhere else. Denver has built their depth through there run it back approach. They will sign players in free agency after the legal tampering period, but it appears the draft is where the action will be. Paton will be open to business draft day and a move up or down is possible. Payton and Paton and Penner have brought the Broncos this far. It’s up to them to take the Broncos over the finish line. Their strategy is not to get caught-up in free agency frenzy and over pay while risking their future.

Late Trade Addition: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Denver Broncos have trading for Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle. Denver receives: Waddle and Dolphins’ 4th-round draft pick (11th in round) in this year’s draft. Miami receives: Broncos’ 1st-round draft pick (30th overall) along with their late 3rd- and 4th-round draft picks (30th in each round) in this year’s draft.

Jalen Waddle is the game changing wide receiver that Denver needed. Waddle has speed, is a vertical threat and very good in quarterback scramble situations. QB Bo Nix now has two excellent targets who know how to get open on the scramble drill in Waddle and Courtland Sutton. WRs Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin will compete for WR 3. But WR Pat Bryant is the sleeper who could step into the wide receiver #4 role. Waddle will also open up the field for RBs JK Dobbins and JR Harvey both in the pass game as well as reducing the number of stacked boxes they will face. This was a great trade for the Broncos Super Bowl hopes and Miami gets a couple of draft picks to help their rebuild.

End.