Broncos to be 'opportunistically aggressive' in free agency

Owner Greg Penner says the team will be ready to pounce on the right player to fill a need, even if it doesn't want to break the bank.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Broncos are entering free agency with a 'opportunistically aggressive' mindset, according to owner Greg Penner. After being proactive in signing key players to contract extensions, the team has some flexibility to add talent in free agency, though they may not want to overspend. General manager George Paton says the Broncos have addressed many of their needs, but they still have holes to fill at running back, tight end, and inside linebacker.

Why it matters

The Broncos are coming off a 14-3 season and an AFC Championship Game appearance, so they are in a good position to be selective in free agency. Their cap situation is manageable thanks to the contract extensions they've already completed. However, they still have some key positions to address, and how they approach free agency could determine if they can take the next step and reach the Super Bowl.

The details

The Broncos have $24.475 million in cap space entering free agency, which puts them in the middle of the pack in the NFL. They can create even more room by restructuring contracts of players like guard Quinn Meinerz, tackle Mike McGlinchey, defensive tackle D.J. Jones, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, and cornerback Pat Surtain II. At running back, the Broncos need to decide if they will re-sign impending free agent J.K. Dobbins or look to sign an outside free agent like Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, or Rico Dowdle. At tight end, they could target players like Dallas Goedert, Isaiah Likely, or David Njoku. And at inside linebacker, they'll have to determine if they can re-sign both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.

  • The NFL's free agency negotiating period begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2026.
  • The new league year, when players can officially sign deals, starts at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Greg Penner

Owner of the Denver Broncos.

George Paton

General manager of the Denver Broncos.

Sean Payton

Head coach of the Denver Broncos.

J.K. Dobbins

Impending free agent running back who played for the Broncos in 2025.

Kenneth Walker

Free agent running back who was the Super Bowl MVP for the Seattle Seahawks.

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What they’re saying

“I think that if the right player is there, they have the flexibility to do stuff, especially if they see somebody they want that maybe fell through the cracks.”

— Jason Fitzgerald, Salary-cap expert (OvertheCap.com)

“Just think if we didn't get those guys wrapped up what we'd be facing. Every offseason is a little, 'Wow, how are we going to feed?' But if we didn't have all those guys done, just think of how much more daunting the offseason would be. It's really important to get ahead of it.”

— George Paton, General manager (The Denver Gazette)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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