The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 NFL offseason knowing that they have a wide-open Super Bowl window. Despite being the No. 1 seed in the AFC last season and having home-field advantage in the playoffs, they fell short of the Super Bowl, losing in a blizzard to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Most fans feel that the Broncos were the better team and should have won that game, but losing starting quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle was too much to overcome. The Broncos' lack of offensive weapons, particularly in the rushing attack, were a glaring weakness in that loss and would have been an even bigger issue if the team won that game and reached Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks.
Recently, CBS Sports stated that the team's biggest need this offseason is at the tight end position, but I explain here why that is off base. Many analysts said the same thing last offseason before the Broncos added Evan Engram in free agency. Though he fell short of expectations, he is still on the roster heading into 2026 and should get a chance to make up for that.
Considering free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, here are the Broncos' biggest offseason needs, ranked in descending order of importance.
Denver Broncos' biggest offseason needs, ranked
5. Replacement for John Franklin-Myers
While it's not official that John Franklin-Myers is going to leave Denver in free agency, it is widely expected. Franklin-Myers is due a hefty payday and the Broncos may not be able to afford to keep him while also being able to address other needs.
Is there a suitable replacement for JFM on the roster currently? That's debatable. Eyioma Uwazurike, Jordan Jackson and Sai'vion Jones could all get a crack at being in the starting lineup next season, but the Broncos need more depth along the defensive front, regardless, as Franklin-Myers has been terrific in his two seasons with the team and won't be replaced easily.
4. Tight End
Yes, Engram played poorly last season, but the Broncos didn't fall short of the Super Bowl because of it and adding another tight end, particularly in free agency, should not be a priority.
Looking at the free-agent market, the top names available include Travis Kelce (who isn't going to play for anyone other than Kansas City), Dallas Goedert, David Njoku, Chig Okonkwo, Tyler Higbee and Cade Otton. It's hard to see how any of them would move the needle much or be a better option than Engram.
Now, if they have a chance to draft Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq in the first round, that's another story.
3. Inside Linebacker
This is a huge area of concern, but the Broncos have options.
Perhaps the first question that needs to be answered is regarding the future of Dre Greenlaw. The Broncos can get back $8.1 million against the salary cap by designating him as a post-June 1 cut, but that would leave them thin at the position with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad set to become unrestricted free agents.
The Broncos need to re-sign at least one of Singleton or Strnad. If one of them gets away and they also move on from Greenlaw, CJ Allen out of Georgia should be the top name on their big board going into the draft.
2. A true No. 1 wide receiver
The Broncos nearly made it to the Super Bowl despite having a relative no-name cast at the wide receiver position, outside of Courtland Sutton, who has been great for the team, but it's time to upgrade.
This is not the draft class to find that player and the free-agent market is going to be thin there as well, particularly with the Dallas Cowboys placing their franchise tag on George Pickens.
That leaves the Broncos' best option as trading for a guy like A.J. Brown or Jaylen Waddle.
1. Running Back
Simply put, if the Broncos had a more consistent rushing attack at the tail end of this past season, they would have played in the Super Bowl. The loss of J.K. Dobbins in Week 10 was critical as rookie RJ Harvey, although a solid player, it's just not an every-down runner.
The Broncos didn't have much behind him, either.
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Dobbins is a free agent and bringing him back remains an option. But the Broncos should go all out for Breece Hall (if he's not tagged), Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne or Tyler Allgeier. Adding a dynamic back to this offense will be the best thing the Broncos can do for Bo Nix and his future as the team's starting quarterback.
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