The Denver Broncos are coming off an impressive season, narrowly missing a Super Bowl appearance after a tough loss in the AFC Championship Game. The game was marred by a severe snowstorm and the absence of their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, who suffered a broken ankle in the Divisional Round. Without Nix, the Broncos fell short against the New England Patriots, leaving fans to wonder what might have been if he had played.
With the offseason underway, the Broncos are looking to make strategic moves to push them over the top. Russell Wilson's hefty contract is finally off the books, freeing up significant cap space.
Cutting Wilson resulted in the largest dead money hit in NFL history, with $32 million charged last year. Now, the Broncos have over $26 million available to pursue key free agents.
John Franklin-Meyers, a standout performer for Denver over the past two seasons, is hitting the open market, and the Broncos are keen to retain him. However, they need to explore additional ways to free up cap space.
One option could be moving on from safety Brandon Jones. Jones, who was instrumental in Denver's top-tier defense with 115 tackles and three interceptions in 2024, saw his role diminish in 2025 due to the emergence of Talanoa Hufanga and a late-season injury.
Despite Jones' value, the Broncos have depth in the secondary. With All-Pro safety Hufanga leading the charge and other talented defensive backs like Patrick Surtain, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, and Ja'Quan McMillian, the Broncos might consider releasing Jones to save cap space. Cutting him would result in a manageable $1.8 million dead cap hit, making it a financially sound decision if needed.
Another player whose future with the team is uncertain is quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Trusted by head coach Sean Payton, Stidham stepped into a starting role during the Broncos' most crucial game in a decade.
Unfortunately, his performance was marred by costly mistakes, including a backward pass and a late interception against the Patriots. While the harsh weather conditions and his backup status throughout the season were mitigating factors, the outcome left some fans questioning his reliability.
Stidham is set to earn $8 million next season, but releasing him would incur only a $3.5 million dead cap hit. The Broncos might opt to find a new backup for Bo Nix, freeing up additional funds for free agency.
As the Broncos strategize for the upcoming season, their decisions in the offseason will be crucial in determining whether they can make the leap to Super Bowl contenders.