Now that draft and the bulk of free agency is over, it’s time as always to evaluate my offseason road map, and see how well my preferred goals overlapped with the goals that the Broncos set out for themselves.
1. Acquire a quarterback
Status: Succeeded
Jarrett Stidham was re-signed, at that slight pay raise from $5 million APY, to $6 million APY–a very prudent and proper move. The Broncos also signed Sam Ehlinger as a potential QB3. I’ll be eager to see if he makes the team on those grounds, and also if Sean Payton gets creative with any possible non-QB duties for him.
2. Heavily address tight end
a) Sign a veteran tight end
Status: Succeeded
The Broncos signed Evan Engram to a two year, $11.5 million APY contract after he was cut from the Jaguars. I had advised the Broncos to look for possible tight ends that could be cut from a possible cut list I built for Over The Cap, and Engram came in at #45 on the list. The goal will be for Engram to be able to immediately fill the below replacement hole on the roster in 2025.
b) Acquire a rookie tight end
Status: Succeeded
The Broncos drafted Caleb Lohner with the 241st overall pick. This is a bit of a flyer of a pick, due to Lohner only playing football very recently after transitioning from basketball, but at least it’s a talent to develop and see if he works out.
3. Acquire a running back
Status: Succeeded
The Broncos drafted RJ Harvey with the 60th overall pick. I’ll look forward to see how swapping out Javonte Williams for him goes, and whether any of the other incumbent running backs can take the next step forward to improve the position as a whole for 2025
4. Budget about $9 million APY for an interior defensive lineman
Status: Succeeded, over budget
The Broncos re-signed DJ Jones to a three year, $13 million APY contract. This was more than I anticipated that Jones would get, but I likely underestimated the market at interior defensive line as a whole, and even then, paying more to retain incumbent players is more understandable than going after external players on the market. I’m looking forward to the IDL rotation from 2024 coming back fully intact for 2025.
5. Budget about $2.75 million APY for a linebacker
Status: Succeeded, over budget and under budget
Justin Strnad was retained on a four year qualifying contract, which is a nice usage of deep rules in the CBA. Meanwhile, I have little complaints about signing Dre Greenlaw to a three year contract for $10.5 million APY, as this strikes me as a discount on his talent due to an unfortunate Achilles tear he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII. I’ll be very eager to see how the linebacker depth chart plays out in 2025 training camp.
6. Budget about $2 million APY for a punter
Status: Succeeded
The Broncos drafted Jeremy Crawshaw with the 216th overall pick. I never like drafting punters or kickers, but what’s done is done, and hopefully Crawshaw can be the Broncos’ punter for many years to come.
7. Bring back Tremon Smith on a similarly valued contract
Status: Failed, but replaced successfully
Smith signed with the Texans for two years at $3.25 million APY. But the Broncos countered quickly by signing Trent Sherfield for two years at $3 million APY, who will be expected to take Smith’s spot as a top special teamer.
8. Bring back Matt Peart on a swing tackle contract
Status: Succeeded
Peart is back for two more seasons at $3.5 million APY. This is a little more than I had budgeted, but Peart has proven to be an excellent swing tackle, but again, he was an incumbent player from 2024, and I’m very happy that he’ll remain on the team through 2026.
9. Retain Courtland Sutton on his current contract
Status: Succeeded
Despite some talk that he could be on the move during 2025 free agency, and some other talk about a potential extension on the horizon, the status quo remains for Sutton, and I continue to believe that that is the proper course of action. I’m looking forward to Sutton having a strong 2025 season, and to visit his future after much of that season is in the books.
And a bonus: adding a safety
The Broncos signed Talanoa Hufanga for three seasons at $13 million APY. I did not have safety on the radar as a position to make a move like this. However, like with Greenlaw, there is little for me to complain with here, as I think the Broncos are getting a similar past injury discount on Hufanga’s talent. Pairing him with PJ Locke and Brandon Jones, along with drafting Jahdae Barron 20th overall, and alongside the reigning Defensive Player Of The Year, should easily give the Broncos one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL.
* * * *
This was a shorter road map than usual, but the Broncos pretty much covered each and every goal that I had laid out in one manner or another, and then some. Overall, I’m satisfied with the moves that the Broncos have made in both the veteran and rookie classes for 2025, and I’m very much looking forward to them taking the next step toward contending for a Super Bowl.