The Denver Broncos have made a pair of tender moves on two important players, placing a second-round tender on cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian while declining to tender running back Jaleel McLaughlin as a restricted free agent (RFA). Both moves were reported by Connor Byrne of ProFootball Rumors.com.
McMillian is the more significant player. The cornerback emerged as a minor star and a playmaker late in the season, and it was his highlight-reel interception against the Buffalo Bills in the division round that was a key play in the Broncos 33-30 OT win. McMillian is now in line to earn $5.8 million in 2026, and Denver will receive a second-round pick in return if he ends up leaving, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
The trade possibility is unlikely, according to Byrne, given that McMillian is only a year away from free agency. The tender should keep him in Denver for another season, which makes sense given that the slot corner is considered a key secondary piece along with Pat Surtai II and Riley Moss. McMillian’s snap count has risen steadily during his time with the Broncos, and he’s had three straight seasons with a pair of interceptions.
McLaughlin’s situation is more marginal. He could still sign a deal with the Broncos, but they declined to pay him $3.55 million that the RFA designation would have triggered, and he played for a base salary of $1.03 million in 2025, according to Byrne.
McLaughlin has had some impressive moments in Denver after a record-setting college career at the lower levels. He rushed for 8,155 yards at Division II Notre Dame (Ohio) and FCS Youngstown State, and he made solid progress in 2023 and 2024. He’s undersized at 5’8” 187 pounds, though, and McLaughlin was a regular healthy scratch after the Broncos signed running back J.K. Dobbins as their lead back.
He did average 5.1 yards a carry in 2025, but his touches were also down, and the Broncos have more draft capital invested in RJ Harvey.
The Broncos’ running back situation is currently in flux. Dobbins is coming off a serious foot injury, so no one knows if the Broncos will resign him, and Denver could pursue a bigger back who can have more success between the tackles as new OC Davis Webb takes over the offense and the play-calling.
Both GM George Paton and coach Sean Payton said at the NFL combine this week that running back will be a priority position this offseason, which means McLaughlin could be moving on unless he wants to come back to Denver and re-sign at a similar price.