Ranking Denver Broncos' in-house free agents

The Denver Broncos should be a team that attacks free agency aggressively ahead of the 2026 NFL season. With a Super Bowl window that is wide open, the team has no time to waste. 

Currently, the Broncos have $28.8 million available in salary cap space, according to Over the Cap, and that number can increase if the Broncos make any moves with players currently under contract. But before the team can look too far at players from other teams, it will first need to decide what to do with its own, in-house free agents. 

Here, we will take a look at the 11 players from last year's roster who were on expiring contracts and will become unrestricted free agents once the new league year begins on March 11. 

Which of these players should the Broncos prioritize? Which ones should they let test the market? These players are ranked in descending order based on importance to next year's roster. 

Ranking Broncos' unrestricted free agents

11. Marcedes Lewis, Tight End

Sean Payton wanted Marcedes Lewis on his team dating back to his days with the Saints. He got his chance to add him to the roster this season and he did, making him the oldest tight end to ever play in an NFL game. But at 41 years old, his best days are far behind him and Lewis did state on this episode of Night Cap with Shannon Sharpe that 2025 would be his final season in the league. 

10. Sam Mustipher, Center

The Broncos added Sam Mustipher to add a veteran presence this past season after Luke Wattenberg went down with a shoulder injury and then his replacement, Alex Forsyth, was hobbled as well. He's not likely to return to Denver. 

9. Michael Burton, Fullback

Payton likes what Michael Burton brings to the team and his offense does call for a fullback. However, when a hamstring injury flared up for Burton before the season, the Broncos were forced to turn to Adam Prentice, who filled in quite well. 

The team should just move forward with Prentice in 2026. 

8. Sam Ehlinger, Quarterback

The Broncos have their starting quarterback in Bo Nix and their backup in Jarrett Stidham, but Sam Ehlinger's allegiance to Denver this past season was refreshing. If the Broncos can get him on another cheap, one-year deal to help in the QB room, there's no reason not to. 

7. Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Wide Receiver

Lil'Jordan Humphrey was not part of the opening day roster after signing with the New York Giants during the offseason. But when they released him, the Broncos brought him back in favor of their own free-agent signing, Trent Sherfield. 

Payton has an affinity for Humphrey and he is a good blocking wide receiver. However, the Broncos need to strongly upgrade the position with a solid No. 1 option while keeping the likes of Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant as young players to develop in the system. 

In theory, there shouldn't be a spot for Humphrey if the Broncos address this position properly. 

6. Adam Trautman, Tight End

Adam Trautman is another player whom Payton believes in greatly, but his contributions to the team aren't anything that can't be improved upon. 

Trautman remains on this roster to this day because the Broncos can't find consistency in the passing game from the tight end position. Evan Engram was supposed to be the answer, but he struggled to be much of a factor in 2025. The Broncos will still have Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull under contract for next season, so if they can find a good option in either free agency or the draft to pair with Engram, they could easily move on from Trautman. 

5. P.J. Locke, Safety

P.J. Locke would be further down this list if the Broncos didn't have to turn to him this past season when Brandon Jones went down with a pectoral injury. He played well in Jones' absence, particularly in the postseason, where he had an interception and a forced fumble. 

If the Broncos don't bring him back, they will need either Devon Key or JL Skinner to make a big leap forward in 2026. 

4. John Franklin-Myers, Defensive Lineman

John Franklin-Myers is the best player the Broncos will have hit the open market this year and he would be No. 1 on this list if not for the fact that it seems highly unlikely that he comes back to Denver, which is why he is in this spot. 

The Broncos would love to keep the defense intact as much as possible, but it seems that they would have to make too many alterations in order to keep JFM, who is going to get multiple offers with big dollar amounts attached, so the best move is to start figuring out who his replacement is going to be. 

3. J.K. Dobbins, Running Back

One of the biggest decisions the Broncos will have this offseason is what to do with veteran running back J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins was terrific for the Broncos this past season until a foot injury in Week 10 knocked him out for the rest of the season, though he likely would have played in Super Bowl LX if the Broncos made it there. 

If the Broncos sign a big-name running back such as Breece Hall, there likely won't be much reason to re-sign Dobbins, as they still have RJ Harvey in the mix. The Broncos will have to decide if they want to risk riding the injury-prone Dobbins or move in a more consistent, yet more expensive, direction. 

2. Alex Singleton, Linebacker

Alex Singleton once again led the Broncos in tackles this past season, and he did that despite a cancer scare that forced him to miss a game. But he is 32 years old and has become a bit of a liability in pass coverage. There is a decent chance the Broncos move in another direction. And that direction could be...

1. Justin Strnad, Linebacker

Singleton's backup. Justin Strnad has been forced into action in each of the past two seasons due to injuries to Singleton and Dre Greenlaw. Unless the Broncos surprisingly cut Greenlaw after just one season, they will likely be deciding between Singleton and Strnad at the inside linebacker position.

MORE: Former Broncos head coach lands new job: Tracking where former coaches will be in 2026

 Strnad is younger, less expensive and arguably, better at this stage in their careers. 

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