The Denver Broncos have made their stance on impending restricted free agent Ja'Quan McMillian rather clear: They would like to hang onto him for the upcoming season, at minimum.
The Broncos have placed a second-round tender on McMillian, per multiple reports. That means McMillian will play for the Broncos on a one-year, $5.8 million deal in 2026, unless another NFL team forfeits a second-round pick for McMillian, and out-bids the Broncos with a new contract.
Denver could have gone the cheaper route, giving McMillian a low tender of $3.55 million, with the more realistic chance a team out-bids the Broncos. But with McMillian coming off such a great season, and being a key piece of the Broncos secondary, the franchise wanted to limit the amount of teams who could realistically make a run at the former ECU product.
It's still possible the Broncos could ink McMillian to a long-term, multi-year contract as well. Placing the tender on McMillian now guarantees he will not become an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL league year begins on March 11.
McMillian is the starting nickel for the Broncos, flanking former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, and fellow starting corner Riley Moss, in one of the best secondaries in the NFL. The group also includes top-notch safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones. Former first-round pick Jahdae Barron is also entering his second year with the franchise.
Ja'Quan McMillian makes the #Broncos defense infinitely better. You could argue he's one of their top three most valuable players on that side of the ball.
Great tackler, technician to a T. pic.twitter.com/kunxJGaF4E
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) February 27, 2026
The former ECU standout had the defensive play of the year for the Broncos, intercepting Josh Allen in overtime of the divisional round to give the ball back to Denver, which eventually won the game to advance to the AFC Championship.
McMillian, 25, totaled 826 combined snaps over the 2026 season, turning in an 80.8 Pro Football Focus grade, including a 78.9 mark in coverage. He notched four sacks, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, three pass breakups, and allowed just two passing scores on 43 targets total.
McMillian was an exclusive rights free agent with Denver in 2025, eventually signing a one-year, $1.030 million deal. He's accrued $3,013,172 over his time in the NFL thus far since signing with Denver as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Since entering the league, McMillian has been credited with 119 official tackles during the regular season, with five forced fumbles, six interceptions, two defensive scores, and seven sacks.