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The Denver Broncos still have plenty of unfinished business left this season. The team stands to win its first division title since 2015 and with the possibility of having the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC, a trip to Super Bowl LX is within sight.
But every team in the league is already looking toward next season at the same time, trying to figure out which players can be added to their roster to make the team even stronger. That is not the focus of head coach Sean Payton right now, but there are scouts and talent evaluators in the front office who spend the entire season looking for ways to get better.
The two main ways to do that in the NFL are through free agency or the NFL draft. The free-agent market generally opens up about one month after the Super Bowl. According to Over the Cap, the Broncos currently have about $40 million in cap space for the 2026 season, and that number will go up between now and the time free agency starts in the spring.
That gives the Broncos a chance to spend some money and find some premium players to add to what has become one of the league's best teams. Here are four offensive players the team should consider signing next season.
Denver Broncos 2026 offensive free-agent targets
Rico Dowdle, RB
The Broncos were mentioned as a potential landing spot for Rico Dowdle this past offseason, but he left the Dallas Cowboys to sign with the Carolina Panthers. He has been tremendous for the Panthers this season, rushing for 929 yards so far this season. That is nearly 500 yards more than Chuba Hubbard, who was considered the starting running back when the season began.
Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Panthers this season, meaning he is set to hit free agency again unless the Panthers extend him. He would be a solid fit for the Broncos as a tough, between-the-tackles runner, especially if the Broncos don't bring J.K. Dobbins back next year. However, Dowdle was born in South Carolina and went to school there, so he would likely prefer to remain with the Panthers.
Rasheed Shaheed, WR
The Seattle Seahawks acquired Rasheed Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline, giving up fourth and fifth-round picks to get him. But in five games, he's caught only eight passes for the team.
It wouldn't make much sense for the Seahawks to trade two future draft picks away for a guy who only plays for them for half a season, but if the Broncos are interested in adding a consistent deep threat to the roster, he fits the bill.
Mavin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin have shown the ability to catch the deep ball, but Bo Nix has had major struggles in throwing it. Shaheed is a much more dangerous option in that part of the game than either of those two players and with the ability to regularly stretch the defense, it could give Nix a better chance of hitting some of his deep throws.
Kyle Pitts, TE
Kyle Pitts is going to be a hot name for teams looking for a tight end and it will be a tough decision for the Atlanta Falcons as far as what to do with him, as he has underachieved in his young career after being the highest drafted tight end (No. 4 overall in 2021) in NFL history.
He is coming off a career night in which he found the end zone three times in the Falcons' 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. A game like that was exactly what he needed to boost his stock. He is projected to get a contract in the neighborhood of $11 million per season, according to Spotrac, and the Falcons will first have to decide if he is worth that.
If not, he will hit free agency and there would likely be significant interest in an athletic tight end who is only 25 years old. The Broncos have Evan Engram, but he will turn 32 years old in September. Both Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull will be free agents for the Broncos, so a big upgrade should be considered here.
Pitts could be worth a big contract as he could thrive in Payton's offense.
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT
The Broncos have enjoyed great offensive line play this season, even with starting guard Ben Powers on the mend. But this offseason, the team should consider a shift at right tackle as Mike McGlinchey is in his 30s and though he hasn't played terribly, he hasn't lived up to the 5-year, $87.5 million contract he signed in 2023.
There is a potential out in McGlinchey's contract following this season, which would include a $15 million dead cap hit (as opposed to the $39 million it would have cost this season), so the Broncos could cut ties with him. But even if they choose to hang onto him, Alijah Vera-Tucker would be an incredibly good signing for the team, as he can also play the guard spot.
READ: Broncos vs. Packers Week 15 expert predictions
The former first-round pick has spent the first four years of his career with the New York Jets, but he would likely be open to a change of scenery starting in 2026.
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