The Broncos went into the offseason determined to keep as much of their 2025 roster intact as possible, but one major loss still stands out on defense: John Franklin-Myers is gone, having signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency.
That departure was the biggest one Denver had this offseason, though it was also one the team seemed to see coming. During the 2025 season, there was already talk that the Broncos might not be able to match the price Franklin-Myers would command on the open market. Denver’s decision to extend several players last season - Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, Luke Wattenberg, Wil Lutz and Malcolm Roach - while leaving Franklin-Myers without a new deal looked like a clear sign of where things were headed.
The Broncos also gave themselves a possible answer before the separation even happened. Near the end of the third round in last year’s draft, they traded back into the round and used the 101st overall pick on Sai'vion Jones out of LSU. It was the kind of move that made sense with Franklin-Myers’ future in Denver looking uncertain.
Now, as training camp approaches, the question is who steps into that role. It could end up being more than one player sharing the load, but Jones is the name that stands out as the favorite.
Denver also has Eyioma Uwazurike and third-round pick Tyler Onyedim in the mix for snaps, giving the Broncos multiple options to sort through. Still, Jones was the player the team targeted for this spot last spring, and a full year in the system should only help him.
His rookie season came with limited playing time, which was expected with Franklin-Myers still on the roster. Even so, Jones made a steady impression in practice, earning praise from teammates and building a reputation for a motor that never seems to shut off.
That vacancy left by Franklin-Myers is widely viewed as Denver’s biggest question heading into the 2026 season. But with Jones, Uwazurike and Onyedim available, the Broncos at least have a strong set of options. When camp opens and the preseason begins, Jones will be the one worth watching most closely.
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