With the start of the NFL free-agent signing period less than one week away, the Denver Broncos are prepared to make some big moves to address their roster heading into the 2026 season. But like all teams, they aren't going to be able to have the exact same roster that they did a year ago.
One player that is almost certain to find a new team is defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who figures to have a vast market for his services. The Broncos will likely allocate their offseason funds elsewhere, leaving Franklin-Myers to the highest bidder.
Spotrac currently estimates Franklin-Myers' deal to be worth $7.9 million annually, but it could easily go north of that. However, it's not all bad for the Broncos.
Broncos should get high compensatory draft pick if John Franklin-Myers leaves in free agency
As reported by Broncos 9News insider Mike Klis, the team should get back a fourth-round compensatory draft pick, maybe even a third, if Franklin-Myers signs elsewhere. As Klis puts it, that would equate to a trade and when you look at it that way, the Broncos would happily take a third or fourth-round pick in exchange for Franklin-Myers.
The compensatory pick process is a confusing one, but essentially, teams that have lost more compensatory free agents than they signed in the previous year receive between one and four selections somewhere in the third through seventh rounds.
Generally speaking, the bigger the contract the free agent the team is losing signs with his new team, the higher the compensatory draft pick is awarded to help replace that player. As Klis predicts, that should be a solid Day 2 selection, which the team would receive in the 2027 draft, not this year's draft.
Franklin-Myers, who the Broncos gave up only a sixth-round pick in order to acquire, has been fantastic for the team, registering 14.5 sacks in two seasons while helping slow down the running game. The Broncos would love to keep him, but he's simply become the victim of a numbers game after the Broncos handed out multiple contract extensions during the season to the likes of Nik Bonitto, Courtland Sutton, Zach Allen, Luke Wattenberg and Wil Lutz.
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Teams can't sign everybody, so Franklin-Myers is looking to cash in elsewhere. However, it won't be a total loss for the Beroncos.
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