NFL free agency kicks off next week and the Denver Broncos will have some work to do. Coming off their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade, the team is on the ascent. Getting some good hits in free agency next week will help keep them on that trajectory heading into the 2025 season.
If I were Sean Payton and George Paton, I’d have three main themes for this free agency period and if they can succeed in all three then they should be primed for an explosive 2025 NFL Draft run next month.
Let’s get to it.
1. Focus on the defense
I think the free agent class is a bit weak on offense, which is why I think allocating salary cap spend on the defense is probably the best move for a team looking to build their up-and-coming roster.
The needs on defense are go from the obvious (inside linebacker and safety) to the not-so-obvious (interior defensive line). Adding a veteran cornerback could also be a good idea.
My personal wishlist starts with inside linebacker Nick Bolton. He’ll potentially be one of the bigger spends, but at 25 he could lock down the inside of that defense for several years to come. The other guys on my radar would be safety Justin Reid or Julian Blackmon. That would address the two biggest issues, but I wouldn’t stop there. Targeting a big man inside — like a Teair Tart — would make a lot of sense. He’s a few years younger than D.J. Jones and a guy Vance Joseph could plug right into the Broncos defensive scheme.
2. Target an established running back
There is no doubt that Denver will be selecting a running back within the first three rounds in the 2025 NFL Draft. Why? Because despite the Broncos having the best offensive line in all of football last season, their running back performance was absolutely atrocious all year long.
The guy I’m high on is probably a guy not many Broncos’ fans would be excited about and that is Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris. The former first-round draft pick has played in every game since coming into the league and has reached 1,000 yards in each season. The issue is that his yards per carry in his career is just 3.9. However, the Steelers offensive line has been pretty bad in recent years. What could he do behind a top ranked offensive line?
Since 2023, Harris has the fourth-most broken tackles and fights for every yard. He is entering his prime years and could be the perfect thunder to a lightning draft pick. I’d be all in on a Najee Harris free agent signing.
3. No need to get spendy
In my opinion, you only go big in free agency when you absolutely believe you are one player away from a title. Are the Broncos one player away? Probably more than one, if we’re being honest. They are a good football team and building, so keep the spend in free agency at a reasonable level.
Does that mean I think they should only sign late stage free agents? Absolutely not, but it does mean to spend that cap in areas that make sense. By all accounts, it does appear to be their plan.
“I think, for the most part, you just have to be measured.” - George Paton
“I just think we couldn’t miss last year,” Paton said at the Combine. “We really had to be strategic, and it’s not easy. We didn’t hit on all of them, but we had to hit, and we didn’t have all the money to go. Every year we do that, and you don’t always hit.
“I just think you don’t always need the big splash. You don’t always need to buy your team. You build it the right way, you draft, you develop, and you’re selective in free agency. You’re hopefully measured. Does that mean you’re not going to have a big signing this year? No. I think, for the most part, you just have to be measured.”
I’ll take that measured approach this offseason. The salary cap isn’t an issue at all, but being smart at this juncture of a rebuild is. Stay the course and keep building.
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