Key Broncos Starter Was Odd Man Out When Denver Handed Out Contract Extensions

The biggest move the Denver Broncos made this offseason wasn’t the huge trade for receiver Jaylen Waddle. That move was important, but the really major moves were made in a sequence last year into this one as the Broncos offered up extensions to sign most of thier key players. 

Cornerback Rily Moss was left out of the extension parade, which was unusual but not unexpected. Jeff Legwold of ESPN was part of a larger piece that named extension candidates from every NFL team, and he chose Moss as his list of extension candidates. 

Moss’s situation is unusual, to say the least, as the lack of an extension could easily be interpreted as something of a slap in the face. Moss has played 1,924 snaps over the past two seasons, more than any other Denver player in that timeframe, and he has held off 2025 first-rounder Jahdae Barron at the outside corner spot so far.  

His situation at the moment is both promising and perilous. The promising part is about Moss’s experience, as Moss is one of the most reliable Broncos on the field when it comes to completing his assignment. But Moss also gets beat badly by elite receivers, at which point he often commits awful penalties. 

The perilous part is about his competition, which is stiff. Barron is still present and accounted for, and he’s expected to improve after struggling some in his rookie year. 

Ja’Quan McMillian emerged as a playmaker last year, and he’s currently playing on a one-year restricted free-agent tender worth $5.767 million with the Denver Broncos. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, though his representatives and the team have held preliminary contract extension talks.

That makes three players for two spots, and there are those among the fan base who would love to see Moss replaced based on his tendency for big penalties. But Barron is something as a wild card at this point as a potential starter, so there will be a shakedown of sorts during camp in July and August. 

The only money move the Broncos have made lately involved the other cornerback, Pat Surtain II, who was given a $5 million dollar raise to get him back to the level of other top-level corners. There are important decisions to make in the secondary, and Moss will have to re-earn his job and improve significantly to have any chance of getting an extension.