One major reason fans should be concerned over Broncos' 2026 free-agency plan

The Denver Broncos are using free agency to retain their own players, at least to this point. As a rising team that made the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade in 2024 and then followed that up with a trip to the AFC Championship Game, it's understandable that the front office wants to keep the roster intact as much as possible. 

The Broncos have used the last couple of days to ensure that they retained linebackers Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton, as well as running back J.K. Dobbins and Adam Trautman. All of that would sit well with Broncos Country if the team also added more talent at each of those positions, but to this point, they have yet to sign a single player from outside the organization. 

Broncos fans who are upset are pointing to things like George Paton talking about how aggressive the team would be in filling needs and how all of the competition around them, particularly within the division, has made great strides to get better. 

Those fans certainly have a gripe, but looking back to last offseason, this isn't all that different. 

Following a loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, it seemed obvious that the Broncos needed to add some more offensive weapons. Though they did sign Evan Engram to a free-agent deal, they signed two defensive players in Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, seeming more interested in fortifying the defense. 

After losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, Broncos fans were again pounding the table for the team to help the offense. A stud running back, a true No. 1 wide receiver and another tight end were on the wish list. 

The Broncos haven't added a player at any of those positions and at this point, it doesn't look like they will. And even if they do, it won't be the big splash move most were expecting. 

So what gives?

Clearly, the Broncos value the current roster and feel that they were close enough last year, and probably would have gone to the Super Bowl with a healthy Bo Nix, that they feel they can run it back, for lack of a better term. There's just one major concern with that. 

Can the Broncos repeat the same success in 2026 that they had in 2025?

The fact that so many teams have added talent while the Broncos have stood pat is concerning. There is also the fact that the Broncos won so many one-score games last season, which Sean Payton has admitted could have gone the other way. 

That is also a concern. However, the biggest concern with this approach is that the Broncos will play a much more difficult schedule next year after winning the AFC West division. That first-place schedule, which is yet to be announced, contains these opponents:

Home: Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders, Bills, Dolphins, Rams, Seahawks, Jaguars
Away: Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders, Patriots, Jets, 49ers, Cardinals, Panthers, Steelers

That is not going to be easy and with the Broncos not making any major changes, at least not as of this writing, they may still have the same weaknesses, which won't be hard for teams on this schedule to scout. 

HOT READ: Broncos depth at safety takes big hit as P.J. Locke bolts to NFC East team

Are the Broncos playing with fire, or has the combination of Paton and Payton handled this masterfully?

More Broncos Content

Broncos have one of their worst NFL records broken much sooner than expected

Patriots swipe one of best remaining free-agent weapons from Broncos

Broncos prediction has team landing Alvin Kamara for almost nothing

Broncos once again connected to 5-time Pro Bowl, 86-TD running back

Broncos should move these running backs up their draft board after Day 1 of free agency