When the Broncos get to training camp at the end of July, the roster picture will already be crowded with players fighting to stick. But there’s another layer to it, too: a handful of veterans may be walking into what looks a lot like their final camp in Denver.
That doesn’t mean all of them are gone after 2026. It does mean the case for each one getting squeezed out is easy to make, whether because of contract timing, younger replacements, or both.
Ben Powers is one of the clearest examples. Denver re-signed Alex Palczewski and used a fourth-round pick on Kage Casey in the 2026 NFL Draft, and both players give the Broncos more options at left guard.
Palczewski filled in well when Powers got hurt in 2025, and Casey adds another possible starter to the mix. Powers is signed through 2026, and with that kind of competition behind him, it’s hard to picture him still being in Denver in 2027.
Courtland Sutton’s situation is more complicated, but the pressure is there. He’s entering his age-31 season, his cap hit jumps from $13.975 million this year to $28.475 million in 2027, and there’s no guaranteed money left on his deal.
If Denver moved on with a post-June 1st cut next offseason, the team would save $22.4 million. The Broncos also have Pat Bryant, who could grow into Sutton’s “X” role, while Jaylen Waddle’s arrival could create another contract decision next offseason.
Taken together, it’s not hard to see why Sutton could be in his last year with the team.
Marvin Mims Jr. is in a different spot, but the uncertainty is just as real. He’s set to become a free agent after the season, and the Broncos don’t seem eager to lock him up early. His work as a receiver has been solid, but he hasn’t made the offensive leap the team has been waiting for, even though he’s already operating at an All-Pro level on special teams.
J.K. Dobbins signed a two-year deal this offseason, but the structure gives Denver flexibility.
If the Broncos want out in 2027, they can make that move, especially if Dobbins again has trouble staying on the field. Rookie Jonah Coleman was added as well, which suggests the Broncos already have a longer-term plan in mind.
Evan Engram also looks like a short-term piece. Denver brought in rookie tight ends Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley this offseason, and Engram is under contract for only one more season.
He finished 2025 with 461 yards and one touchdown, and the Broncos also brought back Adam Trautman on a three-year deal. That combination makes it tough to see Engram still around in 2027.
At quarterback, Jarrett Stidham could find himself in a camp battle with Sam Ehlinger for the QB2 job. Stidham has been with the Broncos since 2023, but his deal runs for just one more season. Denver clearly values continuity in the quarterback room, though Stidham being elsewhere in 2027 is very much on the table.
Alex Singleton is another veteran whose future feels shaky. The Broncos gave him a two-year deal this offseason, but his limitations in coverage and lack of splash plays stand out. With Red Murdock and Taurean York added to the linebacker room, Singleton could be headed toward a role that barely exists once 2026 is over.
Brandon Jones is one of three notable defensive backs whose contract expires after 2026, and he’s the oldest of that group. He has missed time in both seasons with Denver, though he’s been productive when available.
Even so, the Broncos built their starting safety tandem in free agency, and they could do something similar again. They also drafted Miles Scott this year, adding another name to the mix.
DJ Jones is under contract through the 2027 season, so he could still play out the deal. But there’s no guaranteed money left after this year, and a post-June 1st cut in 2027 would save Denver $13 million while leaving just $1.6 million in dead cap. He’ll also turn 32 next January, which only adds to the uncertainty.
Riley Moss rounds out the list. He’s another defensive back whose contract ends after 2026, and the Broncos have Jahdae Barron waiting as a possible replacement at his spot or Ja'Quan McMillian’s.
McMillian got a big raise this offseason, while Moss struggled with penalties in 2025. That makes Moss’ future look murkier than McMillian’s, and it’s why he belongs on the list.
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