The Denver Broncos need a little more firepower on offense to get over the hump, but the team hasn't gone out and signed an offensive playmaker in free agency yet.
If you were Denver Broncos general manager George Paton, would you be adding in free agency after a terrific 14-3 season with an American Football Conference Championship berth?
I know I would be if I was Paton, but thus far, the Broncos are still the only team that has yet to sign an external free agent. Sure, he has re-signed many key performers from the 2025 squad which will keep Denver in contention, but it’s a little disappointing that the organization hasn’t added anybody from outside the organization.
Maybe there is a method to Paton’s madness, though. The main players that were re-signed are linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad and running back J.K. Dobbins, three guys that made a great impact when they were on the field.
Singleton was brought back on a two-year, $15.5 million deal ($11 million fully guaranteed) after what he believed was the best season of his career. He had 135 total tackles, three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits in 16 games. The only game he missed was due to testicular cancer surgery, a true test of his toughness and determination.
Strnad has filled his role as a reliable backup for years and the Broncos have loved how he has developed, enough to re-sign him to a three-year, $18 million contract ($10 million fully guaranteed). He’s a phenomenal special teamer and is trusted to fill in whenever he’s needed. Strnad had a career-high 4.5 sacks and eight QB hits to go along with five tackles for loss in 16 games (eight starts).
Dobbins was outstanding through 10 games in 2025, but sadly his season was cut short due to a significant foot injury. He was on pace to shatter his career-high in rushing yards (905) and surpass the 1,000-yard plateau but ended with 772 yards four touchdowns on 153 carries. Dobbins averaged five yards per carry and produced a career-best 77.2 yards per game, earning himself a two-year, $20 million contract ($8 million fully guaranteed).
Singleton, Strnad and Dobbins are great pieces to have, but the Broncos really need to add an offensive playmaker to get over the hump. Paton may want to bring that player (or players) in through the draft.
Denver needs to address the tight end position above all else, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) believes that the worst-case scenario for the organization’s draft is being unable to upgrade at that position.
“Denver's tight ends recorded an NFL-worst 52.8 PFF receiving grade in 2025,” PFF’s Ryan Smith wrote last Monday. “The Broncos have one of the league’s best offensive lines and a promising young quarterback but would benefit from adding a versatile chess piece or a “Joker” player.
“Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon and Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt are two tight end prospects to keep an eye on. Denver is expected to be a strong contender in 2026, and adding a player of their caliber could be what ultimately gets the franchise over the hump in a competitive AFC.”
Sadiq may go in the early-20s and may be unavailable, but Stowers would be an excellent consolation prize in that scenario. Sadiq had 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns across 14 games for Oregon in 2025. Stowers caught 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games for Vanderbilt last season, even better numbers than Sadiq.
Stowers would be a great value pick if Denver can snag him in the second round.