Three Broncos Who Could Be Playing Elsewhere After 2026
The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 season with one of the most talented rosters they have assembled in years. After adding Jaylen Waddle to an already promising young core, expectations are higher than they have been in quite some time. The Broncos also have several difficult roster decisions looming once the 2026 season comes to a close.
Denver was reminded this offseason that it simply isn’t possible to keep every key contributor, as defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers departed in free agency after tallying a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2025. Similar decisions will likely await the Broncos again as they balance future contracts with the realities of the salary cap. With that in mind, here are three players who could be entering their final season with Denver:
Evan Engram
When the Broncos signed Evan Engram during the 2025 offseason, they envisioned him giving Bo Nix a reliable veteran target over the middle of the field. Instead, his first season in Denver fell well short of expectations, as he finished with just 50 receptions for 461 yards and one touchdown. While there is still reason to believe he can bounce back in 2026, his long-term future with the franchise remains uncertain.
Engram is entering the final year of his contract, and the Broncos have already begun preparing for life after him. Denver selected Justin Joly in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft before adding Dallen Bentley later in the seventh round, giving the organization two developmental tight ends with intriguing upside. Although late-round picks are never guarantees, the Broncos clearly invested in the position with the future in mind.
The addition of Jaylen Waddle also complicates Engram’s outlook. Denver now has another established playmaker who is expected to command a significant share of the passing game’s targets alongside Courtland Sutton. With Waddle expected to become one of the focal points of the Broncos’ passing attack, Engram could see even fewer opportunities than he did last season.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Engram won’t have value for Denver in 2026. He can still provide veteran leadership and serve as a dependable contributor while Joly continues to develop behind him. However, unless Engram significantly outperforms expectations this season, it would not be surprising if the Broncos allowed him to test free agency next spring.
Marvin Mims Jr.
Few players on Denver’s roster are as dynamic with the ball in their hands as Marvin Mims Jr. He has established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous return specialists while consistently flashing the big-play ability that made him a second-round pick. When the Broncos have needed him most, he has also shown he can make an impact as a wide receiver.
Perhaps no game illustrated Mims’ potential better than Denver’s victory over the Buffalo Bills in the 2025 Divisional Round. He hauled in eight receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown, including a 26-yard scoring catch with just 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that gave the Broncos a 30-27 lead. Although the Bills forced overtime, Mims played a pivotal role in Denver’s 33-30 victory and delivered one of the best performances of his young career on one of the biggest stages.
The problem is that Mims has rarely received enough opportunities to produce at that level consistently. Across the entire 2025 regular season, Mims caught just 37 passes for 322 yards and one touchdown while operating in a limited offensive role. With Jaylen Waddle now joining Courtland Sutton atop the depth chart, it may become even more difficult for Mims to consistently earn targets in 2026.
The Broncos undoubtedly value everything Mims brings as both a return specialist and offensive weapon. However, Mims may ultimately seek an opportunity where he can play a larger role as a wide receiver while also earning the type of contract that reflects it. If his offensive workload doesn’t increase this season, Denver could face a difficult decision regarding his future when his rookie contract expires.
Riley Moss
Riley Moss has quietly developed into one of the NFL’s more productive young cornerbacks. During the 2025 season, he recorded 80 total tackles, one sack, one interception, and 19 pass deflections, tying for the league lead in the latter category. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, however, his long-term outlook with the Broncos is far from guaranteed.
Part of the challenge has nothing to do with Moss himself. Denver has assembled impressive depth at cornerback, highlighted by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II and former first-round pick Jahdae Barron. That level of depth naturally creates difficult roster decisions.
The Broncos also have another important financial decision looming with slot cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian. If Denver views McMillian as a higher offseason priority while Barron proves capable of stepping into a larger role, the organization may not have the flexibility to keep every member of its talented secondary together. Teams with championship aspirations are often forced to make exactly these kinds of difficult choices.
Moss has every opportunity to earn another contract with a strong 2026 campaign. In fact, he may ultimately play so well that he prices himself out of the Broncos’ plans altogether. That wouldn’t necessarily reflect a lack of confidence in Moss, but rather the reality that Barron could provide comparable production on a rookie contract while Denver allocates valuable salary cap resources elsewhere.
