Giants pushed to sign John Franklin-Myers in NFL free agency rumors
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Denver Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers is a free agent.
If you think NFL players and their agents adhere to the rules of no cutting deals before free agency negotiations officially begin on March 9, then you probably also believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers is in for a much bigger prize than any of those 3 might be able to deliver in the next week or so when his number finally gets called (officially) for free agent offers, although 1 NFL insider believes the coveted interior defensive lineman already has his mind made up when it comes to his next destination.
“Couple of defensive player rumors I just found interesting, starting with the Bengals having zero interest in keeping Trey Hendrickson,” NBC’s Matthew Berry wrote on Monday. “They may make some noises about keeping him for PR purposes but there is no love lost between the two sides, and he’ll be playing elsewhere next year. Also, don’t be surprised if Minnesota moves on from Jonathan Allen, and I was told Denver’s John Franklin-Myers would be heading to Tennessee.”
Franklin-Myers winding up in Tennessee would be a reunion of sorts. Franklin-Myers played for new Titans head coach Robert Saleh when Saleh was head coach of the New York Jets.
Saleh was also the head coach of the Jets when they traded Franklin-Myers to the Broncos in April 2024, which ended up being probably the biggest gift of Franklin-Myers’ 8-year career to this point.
High Praise for John Franklin-Myers’ Prospects
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler called Franklin-Myers the “Top Option” at his position in the 2026 free agency cycle.
” … Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers could get a lot of interest,” Fowler wrote on Sunday. “(Franklin-Myers) has been attached to the $20 million threshold in conversations. (He is) a productive player hitting the market at the right time, without a ton of competition at the position. Whatever the number ends up being, it will be strong. Franklin-Myers’ floor is already pretty high.”
That means the 6-foot-4, 288-pound Franklin-Myers could very well end up exceeding the total amount he’s made playing for the Broncos the last 2 years — $15 million — within the 1st year of whatever contract he signs next.
Broncos Star Ranked High Among Free Agents
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal put the 29-year-old Franklin-Myers at No. 25 in his Top 101 2026 free agency rankings.
“It’s crazy to think the Rams cut Franklin-Myers after his rookie year,” Rosenthal wrote on Sunday. “Since then, he’s earned more than $40 million on two veteran contracts and is headed for a third. Defensive tackles are aging better than ever lately, and JFM’s old Jets friend Robert Saleh is a head coach again, in Tennessee. ”
ESPN’s Matt Bowen put Franklin-Myers at No. 11 on his list of the Top 50 NFL free agents in the 2026 cycle.
“Franklin-Myers lacks the lateral speed and bend to turn pressures into a bunch of sacks from edge alignments,” Bowen wrote on January 28. “But he’s an active inside rusher who can play as a defensive tackle or 5-technique with his 6-foot-4, 288-pound frame. He had 7.5 sacks and 23 pressures this season.”