When the 2027 league year opens, the Broncos are going to have a real stack of contract decisions to sort through. Bo Nix will be eligible for an extension, and he won’t be alone. Every player from Denver’s 2024 draft class will be eligible too, and some potential restricted free agents could also be part of the conversation.
That creates a pretty interesting picture for a team that may want to reward its own while also keeping flexibility. For Denver, five names stand out as players who could be in line for new deals if they’re still around and keep performing the way the Broncos expect.
One of the clearest cases is Jonah Elliss. The former 2024 third-round pick has already established himself as useful depth over his first two seasons, and Sean Payton has even floated the idea of using him at inside linebacker. He kept pushing that idea during training camp, saying:
“All the cut-up tape, his production, his ball disruption, it just, for me, felt like, ‘Man, we’re taking a position that’s harder to find, and moving him to a position that we think might be a little bit easier to replace,'" Payton said of Elliss. "That’s not to say that we can’t package a few things, but I think we felt like he’s really ascending as an edge player, and we didn’t want to disrupt that.”
Elliss’ future could get even more interesting depending on what happens with Jonathon Cooper. Cooper is under contract through 2028, but with his off-field situation unresolved, Denver could eventually decide to move on.
If that happens in 2027, Elliss could be the player who steps into a starting role. And if Cooper remains in place, Elliss still has a path to an extension as a dependable depth piece, possibly on a deal in the mold of the one Malcolm Roach got last year.
Devaughn Vele’s situation is murkier. He has played enough snaps to qualify for a proven performance escalator in 2027, but the arrival of Jaylen Waddle changes the equation.
Vele is set to slide into a depth role this season, and that could make him a trade candidate if Denver believes other receivers can handle that spot just as well. If he stays, the Broncos could still choose to deal him next season or simply let him walk in 2028, especially if he wants a chance to start elsewhere.
Unless things go differently with Waddle, the odds point toward Vele being elsewhere by 2028.
Cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine has carved out a role as a quality depth option, even if he hasn’t broken through as a full-season starter. Right now, Denver appears more focused on 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron as the eventual No. 2 corner.
Still, the Broncos have shown they value depth that can be trusted, and Abrams-Draine fits that mold. An early-2027 extension doesn’t sound likely, but if he keeps proving how useful he is, Denver could reward him with a deal that matches his role.
The restricted free agent cases are a little different, starting with Troy Franklin. He’s already logged enough snaps to be in line for a proven performance escalator in 2027, but the Broncos’ trade for Jaylen Waddle pushes him into a depth role this season.
That opens the door to all kinds of outcomes. Denver could trade him for a 2027 draft pick, keep him and revisit the situation next offseason, or decide he’s worth extending before free agency gets here.
If Franklin is still around in 2027, though, it would not be a shock if the Broncos ultimately let him leave in 2028, particularly if he’s looking for a starting opportunity.
Then there’s Delarrin Turner-Yell, who has already made a name for himself on special teams and earned first-team All-Pro honors last year. He is eligible for restricted free agency in 2027, though he can actually be extended now because he has already accrued two seasons.
For the moment, Denver is expected to keep him on his exclusive rights free-agent tender this year. Next season, the Broncos will have to decide whether to use a second-round RFA tender or work out an extension before the 2027 league year begins.
If he develops into the No. 3 safety - and maybe even the No. 2 safety after Brandon Jones’ deal expires after this season - the price tag gets more complicated. If not, Denver could still give him a two-year deal that reflects his value as one of the league’s better special teams players.
For the Broncos, the 2027 extension class already looks like it could be busy. Some of these players may grow into bigger roles. Others may be rewarded for being exactly what a team needs: reliable, flexible, and hard to replace.
In Other News...
Broncos Backup QB Battle Just Took A Turn Behind Bo Nix
With Bo Nix looking healthy at Broncos training camp, the attention has shifted to the backup job, where Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger are vying for the spot behind him. The competition has been one of the more practical storylines of camp, especially with Sean Payton sorting through reps and trying to get a clearer read on which quarterback gives Denver the steadier option if the starter needs a breather.
Payton did adjust the practice order, and Ehlinger has also carried some momentum from the offseason program after signing a one-year deal to stay in Denver. Stidham, meanwhile, has continued to face trade talk around his place on the roster, which makes the pecking order worth watching even if the coaching staff is not treating every rep adjustment like a major verdict. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Have A Von Miller Decision That Just Got More Intriguing
Denvers pass rush already looks like one of the roster strengths worth watching, but the conversation around it got a lot more interesting with the possibility of a Von Miller reunion. The Broncos have been weighing how much more juice they might want to add up front, and Millers name still carries real weight in that discussion because of what he has meant to the franchise before and what he showed he can still do away from it.
Miller spent 2025 with Washington and finished with nine sacks while playing a limited role on just 37% of the defensive snaps, which is the kind of production that keeps a player in the conversation even late in his career. Houston also just added another familiar name in Jadeveon Clowney, so the broader market for veteran pass rush help is clearly active, and Denvers own decision on Miller suddenly feels a lot less like nostalgia and a lot more like a football question. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Pass Rush Is Already Sending A Strong Camp Message
The Broncos defensive front wasted little time making its presence felt in camp, turning a routine practice into a steady reminder that this pass rush should be a problem for opposing offenses. Multiple defenders got into the backfield, with sacks and batted balls showing up throughout the session, and the pressure came from more than just the usual headline names. It was the kind of practice that gives coaches something to build on, especially when the effort was spread across the depth chart.
There were still moments when the offense broke through and turned pressure into chunk plays, which is part of what makes camp valuable for both sides. But the bigger takeaway was how often Denver was able to disrupt timing and force plays to develop under duress. If that trend holds, the Broncos may have one of those fronts that makes every snap feel a little less comfortable for the quarterback. [Read more 🡒]