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The Denver Broncos find themselves at a critical juncture in their rebuild. After years of post-Super Bowl L struggles, they finally showed signs of turning the corner in 2024. Under the leadership of head coach Sean Payton, Denver put together a competitive 2024 campaign. While their postseason journey was short-lived, the team demonstrated resilience and clear progress. To take the next step and establish themselves as true contenders in the AFC, the Broncos must be strategic in free agency.
Year two under Sean Payton saw the Broncos take a much-needed leap forward. Moving on from Russell Wilson, they entrusted rookie quarterback Bo Nix. He exceeded expectations in all 17 starts. Led by Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, Denver’s defense went from one of the league’s worst to one of its best. This helped the team secure a 10-7 record and its first playoff berth since 2015. However, a 31-7 Wild Card loss to Buffalo exposed the gap between Denver and true contenders.
With Nix locked in as the franchise quarterback, the priority now shifts to upgrading his supporting cast. Beyond Courtland Sutton, wide receiver is a clear need. GM George Paton has $34 million in cap space. Of course, he has big-name targets like Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin available. Of course, cheaper options like Darius Slayton or Stefon Diggs could be more practical. The backfield also needs reinforcement, as neither Javonte Williams nor Jaleel McLaughlin seem to be the answer at RB.
Tight end remains a glaring weakness, too. No player at the position surpassed a 57.0 PFF receiving grade. Denver has been linked to Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland in the draft, but a receiver or running back at Pick 20 isn’t off the table. The right additions could push the Broncos beyond playoff contention and into the AFC’s upper tier.
Here we’ll try to identify the three sneaky good NFL free agents whom the Denver Broncos need to sign in the 2025 offseason.
Safeties were once among the most vital positions in football. However, the era of Rodney Harrison, Sean Taylor, and Ed Reed is long behind us. That doesn’t mean there aren’t elite safeties in today’s game—far from it. One of the intriguing guys is Talanoa Hufanga.
Sure, Hufanga hasn’t quite replicated the All-Pro form he displayed in 2022. However, much of that can be attributed to injuries that plagued him and several of his San Francisco 49ers teammates this past season. Despite that, he remains a key part of what is consistently one of the league’s best defensive units.
Remember that Sean Payton has a history of targeting high-IQ, high-motor players, and Hufanga fits that mold perfectly. Beyond his ability to make plays on the field, he’s a vocal leader who directs traffic in the secondary. His football intelligence allows him to thrive in complex defensive schemes. In addition, Hufanga’s presence alone would elevate the performance of those around...
