Three Players the Broncos Must Aim to Re-Sign in 2026 NFL Free Agency

Roster building isn’t only about splashy signings and big-name additions. Sustainable contenders hold on to the players who define their identity – the dependable veterans and role players who consistently swing games in small but meaningful ways.

The Denver Broncos’ defense wasn’t just good in 2025 – it was one of the NFL’s best. The Broncos finished the season ranked second in total yards allowed per game and third in points allowed per contest, while consistently disrupting opposing offenses with one of the league’s most productive pass rushes. That unit was the backbone of Denver’s remarkable 14-3 record, repeatedly keeping games within reach even when the offense faltered late in the year.

As the Broncos enter the 2026 offseason, several internal free agents deserve more attention than any outside target. If Denver wants to preserve the toughness and stability of its championship-caliber defense, these three players should be priorities:

3. DL John Franklin-Myers

John Franklin-Myers gives Denver something every defense covets: the ability to stop the run and generate pressure from multiple spots along the line. He posted a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2025 and will draw significant interest from any team looking to upgrade its front seven. His power and motor make life easier for everyone else up front, even when he’s not the one finishing the play.

Franklin-Myers has also proven capable of swinging momentum in an instant. In Week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders, he dropped Geno Smith for a seven-yard loss deep in Raiders territory, forcing a punt that the Broncos returned for a touchdown. That score gave Denver a crucial 14-7 lead en route to a 24-17 victory.

He showed up again in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording two third-down sacks of Trevor Lawrence – one in the first quarter and another in the fourth – both of which forced three-and-outs. Even in a loss, Franklin-Myers demonstrated how quickly he can kill drives before they get started. That kind of situational pass rush is exactly what defensive coordinators lean on in high-leverage moments.

Versatile linemen who can slide between defensive end and defensive tackle aren’t easy to replace. Franklin-Myers commands attention from offensive lines every snap, opening opportunities for teammates and expanding what the Broncos can do schematically. For a defense built on pressure and toughness, re-signing him should be a priority, not an afterthought.

2. LB Justin Strnad

Justin Strnad has quietly evolved from depth piece into one of Denver’s most versatile defenders. His 2025 stat line – 58 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, an interception, and three pass deflections – reflects a player who impacts games in multiple ways rather than one defined role. He’s the type of linebacker defensive coordinators trust to wear several hats on game day.

Strnad’s biggest contributions often come in clutch situations. In a gritty 13-11 triumph over the New York Jets in Week 6, Strnad recorded 1.5 sacks, including a late fourth-quarter takedown of Justin Fields that pushed the Jets into second-and-15 and stalled their potential game-winning drive. The Jets wound up turning it over on downs, the Broncos flew home with the win.

He delivered again the following week against the New York Giants. With Denver trailing late in the fourth quarter, Strnad intercepted Jaxson Dart and set the Broncos up in the red zone, leading directly to a touchdown in an eventual 33-32 comeback victory. Those aren’t empty stats – they’re momentum-changing plays.

That reliability is exactly what you want from a rotational defender. Strnad raises the floor of the entire unit because there’s no drop-off when he steps in. Keeping him means preserving depth, versatility, and trust – three things every good defense depends on.

1. LB Alex Singleton

Alex Singleton is the emotional and statistical backbone of Denver’s defense. He finished the 2025 regular season with a team-high 135 total tackles, plus a sack, a forced fumble, and four pass deflections – the kind of steady, across-the-board production coaches build around. No pending free agent’s potential departure would require a bigger adjustment for the Broncos this offseason.

Look no further than Denver’s clash with the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round for proof of Singleton’s impact. In that contest, Singleton piled up 14 total tackles and forced a pivotal second-quarter fumble by James Cook when the Bills were already in field-goal range. Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga recovered it, Denver marched downfield for a touchdown on the ensuing drive, and the momentum swing wound up being a critical part of a 33-30 overtime win.

That play wasn’t just a stat – it was a season-altering moment. Championship defenses need someone who can flip a game with pure effort and awareness, and Singleton has built a career on doing exactly that. He’s not flashy, but he’s a tone-setter and one of the most trustworthy defenders on the field.

Singleton’s durability is also noteworthy. He was one of just three players on the Broncos’ defense to play at least 1,000 snaps in 2025 – and he did that in spite of undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor this past November. Letting a player like that walk creates more than a schematic hole; it creates a leadership void. Re-signing him shouldn’t even require debate.

The Bottom Line

Championship defenses aren’t built only through splash signings or draft steals. They’re built by keeping the players who show up week after week, who flip possessions, who make the tackle or sack that quietly changes a game. Franklin-Myers, Strnad, and Singleton have already proven they’re those players.

Retaining all three may ultimately prove difficult – Franklin-Myers is expected to be one of the most sought-after defenders on the market, and the realities of free agency don’t always allow teams to keep every contributor. But that doesn’t lessen the importance of making a good-faith effort to preserve this core, especially at linebacker, where Dre Greenlaw’s extensive injury history makes depth less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Losing Strnad and Singleton wouldn’t just mean replacing snaps – it could quickly turn one of Denver’s defensive strengths into a vulnerability.

Letting this trio walk without a real push to retain them would force the Broncos to replace production, leadership, and stability all at once – a gamble smart teams rarely take. If Denver wants to make another deep playoff run, the path forward is clear: do everything possible to keep the foundation that already wins games.