HEADLINES

Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Broncos To Pursue RB, LB Upgrades

January 16th, 2025 at 9:37am CST by Sam Robinson

Having reached extension agreements to keep a few key players away from free agency, the Broncos do not have too many starters close to hitting the market. A few are, however, and the 31-7 wild-card loss to the Bills revealed a sizable gap between the Broncos’ current standing and the AFC’s formidable top tier.

Acquiring more help for Bo Nix will be on the team’s radar. It would stand to reason wide receiver will be considered, as Courtland Sutton will turn 30 during a 2025 contract year, and tight end improvements will be on the radar after Greg Dulcich disappointed to the point he was waived in-season. A clear-cut upgrade area on offense looks to be running back, however.

[RELATED: Nik Bonitto On Broncos’ Extension Radar]

Sean Payton said the Broncos need help at the position, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Although free agent-to-be Javonte Williams is interested in staying, Denver has not seen the 2021 second-round pick come too close to resembling his rookie-year version — before ACL and LCL tears sidetracked his career. The team also has change-of-pace back Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime set to return, but it should be expected another starter-caliber back will be added in free agency and/or the draft.

While Payton indicated (via Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer) the team will still use a two-RB approach, Williams leading the 2024 Denver edition with 513 yards represented an underwhelming effort that impacted the team’s offense. Nix’s 430 yards played a key role in the Broncos’ somewhat deceiving 16th-place rushing ranking. The RB market will not be as fruitful as it was in 2024, however, with the likes of Chuba Hubbard, Rhamondre Stevenson and James Conner signing extensions.

Payton’s Saints offenses regularly featured multipurpose threats — Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara being the most notable examples — and Aaron Jones would fit the bill as a potential option, though the 2024 Vikings starter turned 30 last month. Najee Harris profiles as a more traditional back and may be the top UFA option due to the aforementioned extensions. Rico Dowdle broke through for a 1,079-yard rushing season in Dallas and should have a much better market compared to his 2024 status.

Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, who nearly broke Barry Sanders‘ Division I-FBS rushing yardage record (with 2,601) will be the top RB available in the draft after declaring last week. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Jeanty as the 2025 class’ fourth-best prospect, while assigning Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) second-round grades in what is viewed as a better class compared to 2024. Jeanty might be out of the Broncos’ reach, pointing to a potential Day 2 selection being in play to boost this position group.

Elsewhere on the Broncos’ roster, three-down linebacker Cody Barton is a looming free agent who has shown interest in coming back. But the the team is expected to target an upgrade at that position as well, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Entering a contract year, Alex Singleton suffered an ACL tear in Week 2 and is now 31. The team also has replacement Justin Strnad — a player who went from 2022-23 without playing a snap on defense — due for free agency. Denver lost Josey Jewell to Carolina last year, but with Russell Wilson‘s contract still set to bring $30MM-plus in 2025 dead money, the team might continue to be cautious in spending at this position.

GM George Paton (via Tomasson) alluded to a measured approach in free agency, though he pointed to a projected $52MM in cap space as a reminder the team can chase some roster augmentations after a cautious 2024 free agency period — thanks to Wilson’s whopping $53MM cap penalty. Paton said (via Tomasson) the Broncos’ intent to use more young players in 2024 led to the team taking on the larger portion of Wilson’s record-shattering dead money bill in 2024. The contract will be off the books in 2026.

2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

January 15th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the now-HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-25-25 (4:06pm CT)

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/15/25

January 15th, 2025 at 9:09pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s reserve/futures deals around the NFL:

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Broncos Interested In Nik Bonitto Extension

January 15th, 2025 at 2:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

At this time last year, George Paton expressed interest in a Patrick Surtain extension. Although it took several months, the Broncos finalized a contract with their top player. They hammered out a few more extensions in the process, including one for soon-to-be first-team All-Pro Quinn Meinerz.

The Broncos paid their right guard before his true breakthrough; they will not have that advantage with Nik Bonitto, who turned the corner as a pass rusher before becoming extension-eligible. The 2022 second-round pick stormed to a second-team All-Pro honor, registering 13.5 sacks — the Broncos’ most since Von Miller‘s 2018 season — and scoring two defensive touchdowns. As we discussed in December, Bonitto’s extension price spiked after his 2024 performance.

As could be expected, the Broncos are interested in keeping their top edge rusher around beyond his 2025 contract year. Paton confirmed (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the team wants to keep him around long term, but no talks have begun yet. The Oklahoma product has only been eligible for a new deal for a week. The Broncos will hold exclusive negotiating rights with Bonitto until March 2026.

Bonitto will be an interesting extension candidate, as the Broncos paid their other OLB starter — former seventh-round pick Jonathon Cooper — on a team-friendly deal that checked in at less than $14MM per year. In addition to the Surtain and Meinerz accords, Denver also re-upped left tackle Garett Bolles in what became a busy year for the franchise on the extension front.

The team is not free of the Russell Wilson dead money; $30MM-plus awaits on this year’s payroll, interfering with the advantage gained from Bo Nix‘s rookie contract. But a Bonitto deal would begin its extension years when the Wilson contract is off the books. Nix is tied to rookie terms through at least 2026, giving the Broncos a bit of a window to have another high-end defender payment on their cap sheet.

As for the 2025 offseason, the team is projected to carry more than $52MM in cap space. While the Broncos have some need to address — at the skill positions, linebacker and perhaps a replacement for free agent D-tackle D.J. Jones — the Bonitto matter will be important.

Denver would have a 2026 franchise tag at its disposal if Bonitto talks do not progress to the sides’ liking. Although that would be a pricey cap hold next year, the second-rounder (obtained via the Rams selection in the Miller trade) may have shown himself to be too valuable to lose in free agency. The Broncos will have some time on this front, as the team took care of several extension priorities — save for perhaps Courtland Sutton, who did lobby for a raise last year ahead of a 1,000-yard season, and Zach Allen — in 2024.

CB K’Waun Williams Expected To Retire

January 15th, 2025 at 10:07am CST by Sam Robinson

After missing all of the 2023 season due to injury, K’Waun Williams did not play in 2024. The veteran cornerback does not appear prepared to aim for a comeback in 2025, either.

The veteran slot defender is expected to retire, according to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Williams spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons in Denver but will be best remembered for his time in San Francisco. Williams played 10 NFL seasons.

Williams, 33, suffered an ankle injury in summer 2023 and ended up on IR. The Broncos carried Williams through to their 53-man roster, in hopes the experienced inside corner could return later that season. That never transpired, as Williams did not make it back from surgery in time. The former Browns UDFA’s contract expired after that ’23 season. While five or six teams reached out about potential 2024 landing spots, Williams’ agent said (via Tomasson) no fit developed.

The Broncos had signed Williams to take over for the oft-injured Bryce Callahan in 2022, and the former played 14 games during Denver’s disappointing Nathaniel Hackett-led campaign. Denver signed off on a two-year, $5.2MM deal; that ran Williams’ career earnings past $18MM. The Pittsburgh alum’s two 49ers contracts did the heavier lifting to reach that total.

After the Browns waived Williams in 2017, following an ongoing dispute about an ankle injury, he landed with the 49ers during Kyle Shanahan‘s first offseason running the show. That agreement proved pivotal, as Williams manned the slot under Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans for five years. Williams was a regular for the 2019 49ers, who rebounded from a 4-12 season to reach Super Bowl LIV, and then was their slot staple in 2021 — after the team bounced back from a 6-10 slate to reach the NFC championship game. Williams forced four fumbles to help San Francisco to a 13-3 record during that 2019 season; he added a fifth during the 49ers’ NFC title game win over the Packers.

Helping a team that did not have the same stability at outside corner during this span, Williams was charged with just two touchdowns surrendered across his final four NFL seasons. Earning a three-year, $8.85MM extension early during the 2017 season, Williams joined Richard Sherman and Emmanuel Moseley as 49ers regulars during the Super Bowl LIV run. The 49ers then re-signed him to a one-year deal for the 2021 campaign. Williams played two seasons for the Browns, the first of which (2014) doubling as Shanahan’s Cleveland OC stopover. The Bears had claimed Williams off waivers in 2016 but did not pass him on a physical.

San Francisco struggled to find a Williams replacement in 2022 and ’23, seeing various options play in nickel sets alongside Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir in that span. The Broncos have turned to UDFA Ja’Quan McMillian in the slot post-Williams. If this is it for Williams, he will close his career with five interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 34 passes defensed.

Bo Nix Played Through Back Fracture; DT D.J. Jones Wants To Stay With Broncos

January 14th, 2025 at 6:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Bo Nix and Troy Franklin became the first rookies to connect on a playoff touchdown pass, the Bills eventually proved far too much for a Broncos team that came into the season with low expectations. Nix played the lead role in changing the perception of Sean Payton‘s team, and he will be the centerpiece player come 2025.

As Nix made a surprise entrance into Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations, he played through an injury more serious than the team let on. While Nix had appeared on the Broncos’ injury report with a back issue, the No. 12 overall pick since revealed (via 9News’ Mike Klis) he sustained a transverse process fracture during Denver’s Week 12 win in Las Vegas.

[RELATED: Javonte Williams Interested In Re-Signing]

Nix appeared on the Broncos’ injury report ahead of their Week 13 game, before indicating the bye week helped this along. He did not appear on Denver’s injury report for the rest of the season, starting all 17 games. Nix led his rookie class in passing yards (3,775) while adding 430 on the ground. The Oregon product’s 29 touchdown passes rank behind only Justin Herbert in NFL history for TD tosses by a rookie. After needing to beat out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, Nix will enter the offseason as an ascending passer after powering the Broncos to their first playoff game since Super Bowl 50.

Despite Nix being tied to a rookie contract, the Broncos do not have as much flexibility as teams traditionally do in this spot. Nix is tied to his rookie deal through at least 2026, but the Broncos’ Russell Wilson release will affect their cap sheet through 2025. Denver opted to take on the higher dead money sum ($53MM) of Wilson’s record-smashing cap penalty in 2024, but $30MM-plus is still due in 2025. That will negate some of the savings the Broncos would have reaped from Nix’s rookie-scale contract, thus leading to some decisions coming soon. Not set to carry over much money from this year, the Broncos nevertheless are projected to possess more than $48MM in cap space — a mid-pack number for 2025.

In good shape in terms of starters under contract, the Broncos do have a few key players unsigned. Nose tackle D.J. Jones joins Javonte Williams and linebacker Cody Barton as free agents-to-be on this roster. While the Broncos did well to extend a few players over the past several months — Patrick Surtain, Quinn Meinerz, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper — they will have some holes to fill soon. Jones, however, does want to stay in Denver, indicating (via the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel) he “would love” to re-sign. Ditto Barton, who played out a one-year, $2.5MM deal.

Jones, who will turn 30 on Sunday, started every game he played on a three-year, $30MM contract. Denver has All-Pro Zach Allen and 2024 trade pickup John Franklin-Myers tied to team-friendly deals, though Jones helped the team’s run defense considerably. ESPN’s run stop win rate placed Jones second among D-tackles this season, and the ex-49ers sixth-round pick will be in position to fetch a decent third contract soon.

Playing without Alex Singleton for much of the season, the Broncos relied on Barton as a three-down presence despite the ex-Seahawk draftee needing to win a preseason competition. He has now worked as a three-down player for three teams in three years, moving from the Seahawks to the Commanders to the Broncos. Singleton, 31, remains under contract for 2025 but is coming off an ACL tear. Pro Football Focus ranked Barton 45th among off-ball ‘backers. While the six-year vet could be in line for a slight raise come March, the Broncos may be interested in retaining him due to Singleton’s age and injury status.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25

January 13th, 2025 at 7:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

  • DT Ralph Holley

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • OT Doug Nester

Raiders Request HC Interview With Broncos DC Vance Joseph

January 13th, 2025 at 10:33am CST by Adam La Rose

Another candidate has emerged for the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy. Vegas has requested an interview with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

This is not the first slip Joseph has received for the 2025 hiring cycle. The Jets put in a request to speak with him, and with the Broncos’ season now over Joseph will be free to meet with any interested teams. Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports Joseph’s New York interview will likely take place on Wednesday, while his Raiders meeting is expected to happen on Thursday or Friday.

Vegas promoted Antonio Pierce from interim to full-time head coach last offseason, but he proved to be a one-and-done staffer in that role. The Raiders initially seemed set to retain general manager Tom Telesco, but he too was dismissed last week. Controlling owner Mark Davis thus has a pair of major decisions to make in the immediate future, although it has become increasingly clear minority owner Tom Brady is playing a major role in both search processes. A second attempt at establishing the ‘Patriot Way’ (as the team did with Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler) will not take place in 2025, but otherwise it remains to be seen how the Raiders will proceed.

Joseph returned to Denver last year, having served as the team’s head coach for 2017 and ’18. His first season leading the Broncos’ defense produced underwhelming results, but in 2024 the unit took a major step forward. Finishing seventh in yards allowed and third in points surrendered, Denver’s return to the postseason was built in large part on strong defensive play. To no surprise, then, Joseph’s name will be one to watch as the 2025 hiring cycle takes shape.

Via PFR’s coaching search tracker, here is an updated look out how the Raiders’ search is taking shape:

2025 NFL Cap Carryover, By Team

January 11th, 2025 at 9:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the regular season in the books, all NFL teams have declared their cap carryover for the 2025 league year. Unused cap space from the current campaign will roll over, a substantial element of many teams’ financial planning.

Last offseason saw a record-breaking jump in the salary cap ceiling (pushing the upper limit to $255.4MM). To no surprise, another spike is expected but a smaller year-to-year increase is likely to take place. It was learned last month that teams are preparing for the 2025 cap to check in at a figure between $265MM-$275MM.

As teams evaluate key roster-building decisions – including restructures and cuts aimed at manufacturing cap space – carryovers are crucial. It it still not known what exactly the cap ceiling will wind up as, but in the meantime every club’s space which has been rolled over will add a degree of clarity with respect to how their offseason will take shape. Several teams (including the top two on this year’s list) have made a concerted effort in recent years to carry unused space through the course of a campaign knowing a spike in cap charges for core players are forthcoming.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the full breakdown of each team’s 2025 cap carryover amount:

  • San Francisco 49ers: $50.01MM
  • Cleveland Browns: $41.95MM
  • New England Patriots: $34.86MM
  • Las Vegas Raiders: $33.57MM
  • Detroit Lions: $23.73MM
  • Washington Commanders: $19.83MM
  • Dallas Cowboys: $18.84MM
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: $15.89MM
  • Green Bay Packers: $15.11MM
  • Tennessee Titans: $14.72MM
  • Arizona Cardinals: $11.38MM
  • Indianapolis Colts: $10.1MM
  • Seattle Seahawks: $8.42MM
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: $6.83MM
  • Philadelphia Eagles: $6.81MM
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $6.63MM
  • Atlanta Falcons: $6.07MM
  • Minnesota Vikings: $5.94MM
  • Cincinnati Bengals: $5.94MM
  • Chicago Bears: $5.08MM
  • Los Angeles Chargers: $4.89MM
  • Houston Texans: $4.81MM
  • Kansas City Chiefs: $3.15MM
  • Miami Dolphins: $3MM
  • New Orleans Saints: $2.93MM
  • Los Angeles Rams: $2.75MM
  • Baltimore Ravens: $2.14MM
  • Denver Broncos: $1.91MM
  • Buffalo Bills: $1.34MM
  • New York Giants: $1.17MM
  • Carolina Panthers: $490K
  • New York Jets: $346K

RB Javonte Williams Wants To Re-Sign With Broncos

January 11th, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Javonte Williams’ performance as a rookie seemed to put him on track to operate as the lead running back for the Broncos over the long term. His timeshare with Melvin Gordon appeared to be a temporary arrangement, but the team’s backfield plans were altered once Williams suffered ACL and LCL tears in 2022.

The former second-rounder was limited to four games in Year 2 as a result of the injury, and questions were raised about his ability to return to his previous form. Expectations remained relatively high based on Williams’ rookie campaign (1,219 scrimmage yards, seven total touchdowns), but in 2023 he did not stand out as hoped. While playing on a Broncos offense which generally lacked efficiency, Williams averaged only 3.6 yards per carry (although he did surpass 1,000 total yards in the process).

Entering the current campaign, the matter of how head coach Sean Payton and the Broncos would approach the backfield setup was a key storyline. Williams found himself in an open competition with the likes of returnees Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin along with fifth-round rookie Audric Estime and UDFA Blake Watson. In the end, Perine did not survive roster cuts, a development which helped Williams occupy a significant role on Denver’s RB depth chart at times in 2024.

The 24-year-old logged a full 17-game campaign, handling double-digit carries on six occasions. Both McLaughlin and Estime have emerged as regulars in the backfield, though, leaving Williams with his smallest workload to date in a healthy season. Given his status as a pending free agent, his future has remained uncertain over the course of the year.

Williams’ name came up in advance of the trade deadline, but the playoff-bound Broncos elected to keep him in the fold. As Denver’s wild-card matchup approaches, it remains to be seen if Sunday will mark his final game with the team. If Williams has his way, though, he will continue playing in the Mile High City in 2025 and beyond.

“I’d love to be in Denver (next season)” the North Carolina product said (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). I love the coaches. I love the city, my teammates. I love everything about it but I understand it’s a business and however it shakes out I just got to do what I got to do.”

With a yards per attempt average of 3.7, Williams’ 2024 efficiency has left plenty to be desired. That could steer the Broncos toward letting him depart, especially with Estime under team control for three more years and McLaughlin on the books for next season as well. Denver is currently projected to be mid-pack in cap space for the offseason, one in which comparatively few starters (a group led by linebacker Cody Barton) are in need of a new contract. Whenever their season ends, it will be interesting to see if the Broncos match Williams’ desire to work out a new contract.

Load More Posts