With the NFL’s 2026 regular season nearly here, the Broncos are entering the year with a clean financial picture and room to maneuver. Every player on the 53-man roster, practice squad, injured reserve, physically unable to perform list, and the commissioner’s exempt list now counts against the cap, and Denver is still sitting in strong shape.
The Broncos currently have $23.99 million in cap space, which ranks fifth among NFL teams. That is a far cry from the last couple of seasons, when the team was carrying a heavy load of dead money after moving on from Russell Wilson in 2024, roughly a year and a half after giving him an extension before the 2022 season.
Denver’s dead money total is down to $5.984 million. Most of that comes from former linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who was released in March with a post-June 1 designation.
The club’s current cap charges are spread across several buckets. The practice squad accounts for about $4.619 million, injured reserve sits at about $4.633 million, Jonathon Cooper’s commissioner’s exempt status carries a $5.78 million hit, and offensive guard Nick Gargiulo adds $569K on the PUP list. The rest is tied to players on the 53-man roster.
That number can still move. If Denver makes a trade, deals a player away, or elevates practice squad players during the season, the cap picture will shift accordingly.
Cooper’s situation could also matter if a suspension comes into play. Based on the status of his legal case, the NFL front office may not act until next year, but if a suspension does happen this season, the Broncos would receive a cap credit for any salary he forfeits.
Looking ahead to 2027, Denver is projected to have $24.78 million in cap space, though that figure is only a snapshot. It includes 38 players already under contract for that year, but it does not account for cap carryover, incentives, or proven performance escalators that could hit for 2024 draft picks.
Even with those moving parts, the Broncos appear positioned to handle a future extension for quarterback Bo Nix, who will be eligible for a new deal in 2027. That may be why the team kept so much room available this season: to preserve flexibility and leave itself plenty to roll over into 2027.
There may also be chances to work out extensions with some players whose contracts expire after the season. That group includes cornerbacks Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian, wideout/returner Marvin Mims Jr., and safety JL Skinner.
Denver also has a few potential restricted free agents to sort through in 2027, including safety Devon Key, rush linebacker Dondrea Tillman, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, offensive tackle Frank Crum, and running back Tyler Badie. Not all of them will get tenders, but some could return on one-year, low-cost deals.
For now, though, the Broncos are in a much better spot than they were a couple of years ago. The big cap decisions are still ahead, and how the 2026 season unfolds will help shape what comes next in 2027.
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None of the four had been signed as of the report, which leaves the Broncos with a decision to make as they finalize the defense for the opener. It is the kind of late-August check-in that can signal both caution and opportunity, especially when a team is trying to balance depth, special teams value and readiness before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]