The Broncos’ defense has turned into one of the league’s real problem-solving units, and that has put Denver right back in the mix as one of the AFC’s top contenders. Nik Bonitto and Patrick Surtain II have grabbed plenty of the spotlight, and for good reason, but the group’s success depends on more than just the headliners.
Riley Moss has become one of the more important pieces in that secondary, and ESPN’s Seth Walder expects that role to pay off in a big way. Walder is projecting the Broncos cornerback to land a deal worth $17 million per year after the 2026 season, whether that comes from Denver or elsewhere.
"Cornerback Riley Moss will command a $17 million per year contract -- the same AAV as the deal Jaylen Watson signed with the Rams this offseason -- either re-signing with Denver or as a free agent," Walder writes.
Moss has carved out a valuable spot as the outside corner opposite Surtain, and he’s done it while becoming a fan favorite in Denver. At the same time, his game comes with some risk: last season, he led all corners in penalty yards.
Even with that issue, Moss still profiles as a starter with real upside, the kind of player plenty of teams would want on the open market. And with the salary cap continuing to rise, good starting cornerbacks are only getting harder to find.
That combination makes it easy to see why Denver could be facing a tricky decision after the 2026 NFL season. The Broncos could try to keep Moss with the franchise tag for another year, explore a tag-and-trade scenario, or work out a long-term extension. But if Walder’s prediction holds, Moss is headed for a $17 million-a-year payday.
In Other News...
JK Dobbins Has A Chance To Justify Denver's Bet In Week 1
The Broncos decision to bring back JK Dobbins is already being tested in the harshest possible way, with Denver opening the season against a Chiefs team intent on leaning on Kenneth Walker in the run game. It is the kind of early measuring-stick matchup that can tell you plenty about a backfield, especially when one side is trying to justify a fresh investment and the other is hoping to prove it made the right bet by betting on familiarity and upside.
Dobbins arrives with the usual caveats attached after an injury-plagued stretch, but Denver still has reason to believe in what it saw before last seasons setback. Walker brings a different kind of pressure, coming off a Super Bowl MVP run and a major contract designed to elevate Kansas Citys ground attack, which only sharpens the contrast for the Broncos. If Dobbins can hold up and make an impact in Week 1, it would go a long way toward validating Denvers approach to the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Are Getting Real Super Bowl Buzz For One Big Reason
The Broncos are starting to look like one of the leagues most interesting early Super Bowl talking points, and it has a lot to do with how complete they appear on paper. Albert Breer went as far as projecting Denver as the AFCs top seed for the 2026 season, pointing to a deep roster, a strong coaching staff and the offseason addition of Jaylen Waddle as the kind of move that can change the ceiling of a team fast.
Breers forecast has Denver getting through the Bengals and Bills on its way to the title game, with three AFC West teams ultimately making the playoffs. The part that still leaves something to chew on is the finish, because his projection has the Broncos falling just short of the Lombardi Trophy to the Rams, which is enough to keep the buzz high while reminding everyone how narrow the margin is at the top. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Is Showing Broncos Fans What Really Drives His Leadership
Bo Nix has been showing Broncos fans another side of his leadership this summer, and it starts away from the stadium. At his Alabama property, Nix runs a quarterback camp through his nonprofit AIRO, giving boys ages 12 to 16 a chance to work on football basics while also taking part in faith-based activities that reflect the way he sees the game and life.
The camp has had some notable Broncos connections too, including backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham among the guests participants have seen around the field. Nix has described the setting as a place to share life lessons along with gospel messages, which gives the quarterback room to lead in a way that is bigger than playbook talk and adds another layer to how Denver views its young starter. [Read more 🡒]