The Broncos still haven’t added anyone new, but they did agree to terms with two players to whom they declined to issue restricted-free-agent tenders earlier this week: defensive end Matt Henningsen and tight end Lucas Krull. Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette was first to report the moves.
In both cases, the RFA tender of $3.52 million is far more than either player would have merited on the open market. But these types of moves offer a mutual benefit.
For the team, it allows them to keep a player on the roster at a sharply reduced cap figure. That’s valuable now — when only the largest 51 cap charges count — and into the regular season if either Henningsen, Krull or both stick on the 53-player roster. For the player, it provides some guaranteed money that would not exist with the restricted free-agent tender.
Krull has been on the primary roster the last two seasons. Henningsen was on it for the 2022 and 2023 seasons and spent 2025 on injured reserve after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the joint practice against the 49ers, allowing him to earn another year of service time despite not playing a down. He was a practice-squad player in 2024.
With the decision to re-sign Krull, the Broncos have most of the 2025 tight-end room re-signed for the coming season. Marcedes Lewis, the oldest player ever to play in a game for the Broncos, is the only tight end who played for the club last season who his not under contract.
KRULL STUCK LAST YEAR AFTER STRONG WORK IN BRONCOS TRAINING CAMP
After failing to notch a touchdown over 19 catches in 13 games during the 2024 season, Krull found himself in a fight for a roster spot when the team signed Evan Engram in free agency last March.
But he responded with a strong training camp and preseason, eventually sticking on the 53-player roster. He played in three games early last season, starting them all as he grabbed two passes for 15 yards.
However, Krull’s campaign ended when he [suffered a fracture in his foot](http://announce that your coach on a warm-to-hot seat is coming back for another year -- and then the team) during practice leading up to the Week 5 contest at Philadelphia. He landed on injured reserve and did not return to practice until the postseason, as the team opened his 21-day window for a return from injured reserve prior to the divisional-round game against Buffalo.
He practiced for both postseason weeks but was not activated for either contest before the campaign ended.
HENNINGSEN HEADS INTO HIS FIFTH BRONCOS CAMPAIGN
A part of the Broncos 2022 draft class, the Wisconsin product played in 34 games over his first two seasons before landing on the practice squad in 2024. He notched 40 tackles, a sack, two tackles for losses and two passes defensed in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
With John Franklin-Myers having moved on, Henningsen will compete with Jordan Jackson, Kristian Williams and any roster additions in the coming seven weeks for a rotational spot on the defensive line after he completes his recovery from the Achilles injury.