Ever since sitting down with Sean Payton to talk shop before the bye week, George Paton has given out new deals in Denver like Oprah giving out new cars.
Wil Lutz came first, his agent calling him on the golf course while the 31-year-old kicker was enjoying some time off this past week. Center Luke Wattenberg was the next domino to fall, agreeing to a four-year, $48 million deal well before he could wade into free agency in a thin 2026 class. And defensive tackle Malcolm Roach followed on Wednesday — after negotiations had ramped up just the day before, a source told The Post — with a three-year deal worth $14 million in guaranteed cash.
“There are a few other players that we know we’ve reached out to,” Payton said on Monday, “and I think the key is the communication aspect of it all.”
So is this week’s run over? There’s a few core players that remain on a collision course with free agency, and the Broncos still have ample cap room to work with — particularly if they choose to move on from or restructure the deals for guard Ben Powers or tackle Mike McGlinchey after the season. Payton said Wednesday it was “hard to say” if Denver would look to extend any other players before the end of the year.
Here’s a breakdown and an extension-temperature check on five key Broncos who are headed for free agency after the season’s end, from consulting sources over the past couple weeks.
J.K. Dobbins, RB
2025 stats: 10 games, 153 carries, 772 yards, 5.0 YPC, 4 TD
Outlook: Dobbins was perhaps the most important piece of the Broncos’ offense through 10 games in 2025, a true steal after inking a one-year contract with a base value of $2.7 million in June. A source told The Post in late October that the running back could seek around $10 million yearly on his next deal.
That’s likely off the table now, after Dobbins suffered a potentially season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 10 against the Raiders. Still, the Broncos’ backfield looks as thin heading into 2026 as it does now, even as rookie RJ Harvey will have this stretch run to assert himself as Denver’s RB of the future. Unless Dobbins is seeking legitimate starter-level money, the Broncos could still look to bring him back as a veteran presence in the room. Anything here probably wouldn’t get done until after the year, though.
Likelihood of re-signing: Cool
John Franklin-Myers, DL
2025 stats: 11 games, 4.5 sacks, 19 tackles, 8 QB hits
Outlook: Franklin-Myers indicated to The Post that he was looking ahead to free agency back before the first game of the season, and nothing’s changed nearly three months later, even as nearly every single impact defensive linemen around him has earned job security. A source told The Post again this week that the Broncos haven’t initiated extension talks, as a cold front continues here despite another strong season for Franklin-Myers.
This is not for lack of belief in Franklin-Myers. Teammates and defensive staff alike are fully aware of how valuable he is, able to consistently create interior pressure and command defensive attention away from All-Pro Zach Allen. Roach, on the day of his extension, issued a public plea for the Broncos to extend him.
“We just gotta find a way to keep our room together,” Roach said. “Get my dog JFM right, and then we gonna be good.”
But Franklin-Myers might just be priced out of what Denver’s willing to pay. The Broncos didn’t trade up in the third round in April to take Sai’vion Jones for nothing, and Franklin-Myers has a mighty reference deal in similar-framed Milton Williams’ free-agent contract with the Patriots this past offseason — an average value of $26 million for a player with fewer sacks (3.5) than Franklin-Myers.
Likelihood of re-signing: Cold
Alex Singleton, ILB
2025 stats: 10 games, 89 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack
Outlook: This is out of sight and out of mind at the moment, as Singleton’s been working back the last few weeks from a shocking testicular cancer diagnosis. In the weeks before, though, Singleton was setting the Broncos up for an interesting decision. His issues in coverage have been well-documented, but Singleton has had perhaps his best NFL season against the run in 2025, missing just three tackles across the last seven weeks (according to Pro Football Focus).
Singleton is integral to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense, as the green-dot mike linebacker. But Joseph could be gone for a head-coaching gig in 2026, and Singleton will be 32.
Likelihood of re-signing: Cool
Justin Strnad, ILB
2025 stats: 11 games, 48 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7 QB hits
Outlook: At this point, Strnad could seek starter-level money. He’s proven for two seasons that he’s not just a special-teamer, and Strnad showed in a 10-tackle effort against the Chiefs that he can play mike in addition to off-ball.
He’s a valuable piece in Denver’s system, a stalwart in the George Paton era who’s shown himself capable of adapting to any possible role thrown in front of him. But former Bronco Cody Barton just earned a three-year, $21 million deal in free agency after playing next to Strnad in 2024, and Strnad has priced himself well out of the 1-year, $2.8 million re-up he signed this past offseason. This could depend on what Denver decides to do with starting ILB Dre Greenlaw; quietly, there’s a potential out after this season in Greenlaw’s three-year 2025 deal.
Likelihood of re-signing: Lukewarm
Ja’Quan McMillian, CB (RFA)
2025 stats: 11 games, 35 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 74.3 passer rating against
Outlook: There are no immediate alarm bells here. McMillian is a restricted free agent, meaning the Broncos can elect to place various levels of “tenders” on him that grant the right to match another team’s offer in free agency. Denver can well elect to slow-play this and match another team’s offer to McMillian, or even let him walk — with the presence of first-round rookie Jahdae Barron — and receive draft-pick compensation.
McMillian, though, hopes the Broncos will make the commitment to keep him, as agent Deryk Gilmore told The Post.
“Him and I actually talked about this yesterday — having an opportunity to stay with the team that gave him his opportunity is something that he would dream about,” Gilmore said.
Likelihood of re-signing: Lukewarm
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