So, the Broncos haven’t added anyone from the outside this week. But they’re also in a weird spot to where they have a viable starting lineup plus key rotational players with which they could go to battle if they needed to play a game Sunday (albeit probably without Bo Nix, still recovering from his fractured ankle).
That’s the interesting spot in which Denver sits.
Broncos Country might sleep better if the team had a running back on the roster who could backstop J.K. Dobbins in case he lands on injured reserve for the fifth consecutive year without RJ Harvey needing to change his role as he did last year after the seven-year veteran succumbed. But the Broncos do have their RB1/RB2 combination ready to go with that duo.
The fans would probably feel a bit better with another veteran linebacker or a dynamic rookie behind Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton. But the latter wouldn’t arrive until the draft, and as for the former, Drew Sanders is back to health after having returned to practice down the stretch following the foot injury he suffered early in training camp.
Defensive line took a hit with John Franklin-Myers’ departure. But Malcolm Roach is a more-than-capable replacement in the starting lineup; the question now is whether one or some of Enyi Uwazurike, Jordan Jackson and Sai’vion Jones are ready for larger roles.
And there’s plenty of hand-wringing over the state of the tight end position, with the room returning intact at this moment despite some struggles last year.
But the Broncos still sit in an enviable spot. They have a roster dotted with recent first- and second-team All-Pros. While teams around the league unwrap their free-agent toys, the Broncos can go back to their room and look at the toys they already have on their shelves; most teams look upon the Denver largesse with envy.
And while they must start the climb to a Super Bowl from zero, they’ll do so with this talented roster. It’s the kind of situation that could attract a high-character, seasoned veteran looking for a chance to chase down a championship.
THREE 30-SOMETHING VETERANS WHO MIGHT MAKE SENSE FOR THE BRONCOS
DL CALAIS CAMPBELL
OK, so, there’s some sentimentality here for the Denver South H.S. alumnus. What a story it would be to bring Campbell home to close the circle on a career that includes an All-Decade selection, six Pro Bowls, four first- or second-team All-Pro nods and a Man of the Year trophy. He turns 40 in September and one thing is missing: the big ring. But even at his age, he’s still effect. Last year, he recorded one quarterback hit every 21.3 pass-rush snaps. That placed him eighth among 136 interior defensive linemen with at least 100 pass-rush opportunities, per data compiled by Pro Football Focus.
He started all 17 games for the Cardinals last year, so he might not be ready for a rotational role just yet. But if the Broncos want to add a seasoned veteran with unquestioned leadership qualities who would instantly connect with the fan base, Campbell’s the guy.
TE ZACH ERTZ
Most of the attention has been on David Njoku or Dallas Goedert — who officially remains with the Eagles as of this writing. And with Ertz, you’d have to wait on his recovery from a torn ACL; he’s projected back by Week 1.
Denver rolled the dice on four free agents with varying degrees of injury concerns last year in free agency; two of them — Evan Engram and Talanoa Hufanga — made it through the season without any major setbacks. So, that risk would be part of the accounting. But Ertz remains productive — 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns over 13 games last year is evidence of that — and all you have to do is look at how he diced up the Broncos in Week 13 last November for 106 yards to get a reminder of what the 35-year-old can still do. An incentive-laden contract could be a wise play for a team looking for more pass-catching punch in its tight-end room.
S JONATHAN OWENS
His days as a full-time starter might be in the past; he played just 47 defensive snaps for the Chicago Bears last year after starting five games for them in 2024 and 11 in 2023 with the Green Bay Packers. But in the last three years he’s become a core special-teamer, playing at least half of his team’s special-teams snaps in each of those seasons. He earned a 90.1 Pro Football Focus special-teams grade last season. If the Broncos want more experience from a reserve safety than they have right now, Owens would fit the bill.
OK, SO WHY NOT MENTION VON MILLER, THEN?
Because the Broncos are stacked at edge rusher, to the point where they couldn’t activate Que Robinson most weeks despite his palpable progress in practice. And in the AFC Championship, the evidence of his growth flashed for the football-viewing world when he chased, corralled and sacked New England quarterback Drake Maye. If Miller played safety or inside linebacker or 3-4 defensive end, there’d be a spot. At edge in a 3-4 alignment, there’s no room at the inn unless the Broncos trade from a group that includes three young players they love in Robinson, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman.
The rookie Que Robinson gets the sack 😤
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— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2026