The Broncos have plenty of important players on the roster, and not all of them have been paid yet. That matters now, because 2026 is shaping up to be a contract-year spotlight for a few guys who have already shown they can be part of the solution in Denver.
This front office has shown it will reward players it believes in, especially home-grown talent, and that only adds to the pressure - and the motivation - for the players still waiting on their next deal. Four names stand out: Ja'Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Brandon Jones and Marvin Mims Jr.
McMillian might have the strongest case of anyone on the list. Outside of Bo Nix, he may be the Broncos’ most clutch player, and his playmaking showed up in a big way in last year’s playoffs.
He also bounced back sharply after a rough 2024. Per Pro Football Reference, McMillian allowed a 64.4 percent completion rate, 688 yards, three touchdowns and an 85.7 passer rating in 2024.
In 2025, those numbers improved to a 59.5 percent completion rate, 467 yards, two touchdowns and a 74.2 passer rating. He got a substantial raise this offseason, but there’s still no long-term deal in place.
That only heightens the stakes for the undrafted corner. He was passed over by all 32 teams in the draft, and he plays a position where the market is not exactly neatly defined. If McMillian believes he’s one of the NFL’s top slot corners, it makes sense that he’d want to push for a deal that resets that market instead of continuing on one-year contracts.
Riley Moss is in a different kind of waiting game. Broncos GM George Paton has now signed the best player from his first two draft classes - 2021 and 2022 - to extensions on September 4 in each of the last two years, and September 4 is right around the corner. That alone has people wondering if Moss could be next.
There’s reason to think Denver would want to keep him. The team has made a real effort to lock up players it values, and Paton has clearly shown he likes to keep his own guys.
At the same time, Moss isn’t a lock. His pass interference penalties last season could make the front office hesitate, especially because some of them came at the worst possible times.
Still, no cornerback was targeted more in the NFL last year than Moss, and he held up well. Even with the flags, it’s easy to see why Denver would consider him part of the long-term plan.
Brandon Jones brings a different kind of urgency. He’s also in a contract year, and while he missed time in both seasons with the Broncos, he gives the defense a lot of flexibility and helps Talanoa Hufanga do what he does best. Jones is the oldest of the three defensive backs mentioned here, and he plays a less valuable position than cornerback, which makes his path to a Denver extension tougher.
Even so, Jones is a good player - underrated, really - and he knows the clock is ticking. He’s on his second NFL contract now, and a third deal could be the biggest payday of his career. If he stays healthy and puts together a big year, he could price himself out of Denver, but either way, he’s playing for a major financial outcome.
Then there’s Marvin Mims Jr., whose value is a little harder to pin down but still very real. He isn’t a major receiving threat yet, but he’s an elite return specialist and has the speed and vertical ability to change a game in a hurry. Even with limited snaps, he’s come through in clutch moments for Denver.
At 24, Mims still has time to carve out a bigger role, and that matters because the Broncos are in a bit of transition at wide receiver. If he earns more offensive snaps and keeps producing on returns, his long-term future in Denver becomes much easier to imagine.
He can also look at what Seattle gave returner-receiver Rashid Shaheed this offseason: a three-year, $51 million deal with nearly $35 million guaranteed. If Mims expands his role and keeps delivering in the return game, he could be in line for that kind of money or more.
All four players have been around for big contract moments with teammates, and that matters. They’ve seen how this organization rewards the right guys. Now they’re all trying to make sure the next major payday in Denver has their name on it.
In Other News...
Broncos May Have A Costly Riley Moss Decision Coming Fast
George Paton has made a habit of settling important business before the season gets rolling, and the Broncos recent extension history shows the pattern clearly. Pat Surtain II and Nik Bonitto both got paid in early September, giving Denver a cleaner runway into the fall and helping the front office manage the roster with less noise once games start counting.
Riley Moss looks like he could be next in line for that kind of treatment. The cornerbacks recent improvement has put him in position to factor into Denvers long-term plans, and the Broncos preference for developing their own players makes the timing feel especially relevant now. If Paton is going to get ahead of the market again, this would be the sort of move that keeps the season focused on football and avoids a more complicated cap conversation later. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have A Troy Franklin Decision That Wont Go Away
Troy Franklins spot in the Broncos receiver picture has become a lot less settled than it looked not long ago. After serving as Denvers No. 2 wideout last season, he now has to navigate a deeper room following the arrival of Jaylen Waddle and Pat Bryants rise, turning what once felt like a clear role into a real depth-chart battle.
Sean Payton has continued to talk up Franklins progress and comfort in the offense, so this is not a case of a player falling completely out of favor. Still, with the Broncos weighing who suits up on game day and Franklin bringing limited special teams value, his snaps could hinge on how the roster is sorted each week rather than on any one breakout performance. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton May Not Be Done With Denvers Tight End Room
Sean Payton sounded content with where Denvers tight end room landed after roster cuts, and the Broncos now head into the season with four bodies at the position on the 53-man roster. Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and rookie Dallen Bentley made the cut, while Lucas Krull stayed in the organization on the practice squad, giving the staff a group that looks deeper and more varied than it did earlier in the summer.
The one thread still hanging over the room is whether there could be another move coming, and Payton did not have an update on the possibility of adding Taysom Hill. For now, Denver has its tight end depth chart set, but the way Payton framed the position suggests he is at least open to more options if the right one surfaces. [Read more 🡒]