The Denver Broncos' front office, led by GM George Paton, enters the 2026 offseason with a valuable combination of financial resources and roster decisions to make. According to the latest estimates from Spotrac and OverTheCap, the Broncos are projected to have approximately "$34.38" million in effective cap space, placing them in the top tier of the NFL for spending power.
This flexibility is largely due to the expiration of several contracts, most notably the final remnants of the Russell Wilson deal, which is completely off the books. Owner Greg Penner's mandate for an "opportunistically aggressive" approach in free agency will be tested with this war chest.
However, the team must first navigate its own list of pending free agents. The Broncos have 22 players set to hit the market, headlined by key unrestricted free agents like defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, linebacker Alex Singleton, and tight end Adam Trautman. Other notable UFAs include quarterback Sam Ehlinger and running back J.K. Dobbins. Restricted free agent running back Jaleel McLaughlin and exclusive rights free agent Tyler Badie also need new deals.
The strategy will involve calculated decisions on which internal players to retain while strategically deploying cap space to address weaknesses, particularly at offensive playmaker and defensive depth positions. With their first-round draft pick also in hand, the Broncos are positioned for a pivotal roster-building period.