The Denver Broncos didn't do much in free agency except trade for WR Jaylen Waddle, but the team did bring back several key free agents like LB Alex Singleton and RB J.K. Dobbins.
The Denver Broncos have had a quiet offseason outside of trading for star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and most of its moves have been re-signing key players from last year’s team that finished 14-3 and made it to the American Football Conference Championship.
Continuity isn’t a bad thing when the team proves to be successful, and the Broncos believe that adding an offensive playmaker like Waddle will elevate the offense to a place it wasn’t last season. In an offense that passed the ball more than any other team but still was stagnant at times, Waddle should move the needle with counterpart Courtland Sutton.
The reason head coach Sean Payton was dialing up more pass plays than any other team, especially in the second half of the season, is because starting running back J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dobbins was off to an incredible start and was well on his way to having his first 1,000-yard rushing season, but he ended with 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries. At season’s end, both sides were interested in a reunion, but Dobbins wasn’t brought back until after running back Travis Etienne Jr. signed with the New Orleans Saints.
The Broncos were in on Etienne but were forced to pivot back to Dobbins. It seems like a safe option, but due to his injury history, Pro Football Focus’ Zoltan Buday wasn’t a fan of the contract Denver dished out to him.
“The Ohio State product finished the 2025 season with an 80.8 PFF rushing grade, which was his highest mark since his rookie campaign and ranked 18th among 53 running backs,” Buday wrote last month. “However, his 341 snaps ranked just 45th at the position.
“Similarly, Dobbins has logged only 905 snaps over the past three seasons, which also ranks 45th. The size of this contract is a risk, considering Dobbins’s tendency to miss time with injuries.”
Buday knows talent isn’t the issue with Dobbins, and it’s clear how well Denver’s offense looked with a competent running game, but if he goes down for the season, the Broncos could be forced into the same scenario as it was in last season.
Buday’s favorite move was re-signing linebacker Alex Singleton, who helped anchor the defense in what was a good but scary season for the 32-year-old. Singleton underwent testicular cancer surgery and missed just one game before he was back on the field tackling everything in sight.
“As fellow linebacker Dre Greenlaw struggled with injuries, Singleton stepped up and put together a very solid 2025 season in the middle of the Broncos' defense,” wrote Buday. “His 72.0 PFF overall grade was his highest since 2022. Even more impressive was his 88.5 PFF run-defense grade, which ranked 25th among 88 qualifying linebackers.”
Singleton believes 2025 was his best season despite not setting any career-highs. It was just a clean season from him and Denver loves the stability and leadership he brings to the organization.
Dobbins and Singleton were important to the 2025 Broncos and the team is hopeful they are just as important if not more important to the 2026 Broncos.