Sixth in a series previewing the Broncos’ 2025 roster in the weeks leading up to the start of training camp in late July. Last week: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line
On the roster (10): Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach, Sai’Vion Jones, Jordan Jackson, Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen, Jordan Miller, Kristian Williams
How many on the 53? 5-6. This is going to be one of the most difficult position groups on the roster to crack. Allen is coming off the best year of his career (8.5 sacks, 67 pressures) and has been durable since arriving in Denver (only one game missed). D.J. Jones, Franklin-Myers and Roach all have well-defined roles and Denver traded up late in the third round of April’s draft to select a high-upside player in Sai’Vion Jones. That leaves maybe one spot left on the 53-man roster. Maybe.
Most impactful offseason move: Re-signing Jones to a three-year, $39 million deal with $26 million in guarantees.
Jones played well in the final year of his deal but wasn’t a sure bet to return. The Broncos, however, locked up the 30-year-old on the eve of free agency, ensuring that their entire group from 2024 is set to return this fall. It gives perhaps the NFL’s most disruptive defensive line a remarkable level of continuity. Denver made several flashier additions this offseason, like ILB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga and offensive skill players TE Evan Engram and RB J.K. Dobbins, but Jones’ locker room presence and stout play against the run are integral — if unheralded — ingredients to Vance Joseph’s defense.
Biggest question to answer in camp: Is the rookie ready to contribute right away?
There are also questions about contract extensions — at present, Allen, Franklin-Myers and Roach are all entering the final year of their contracts — and some of those decisions could come soon. In terms of the 2025 season on the field, though, this group is stacked. Sai’Vion Jones looks like a potential long-term replacement for Franklin-Myers, but for now, the question is whether he shows enough in camp to earn a spot in Denver’s rotation. Denver would do well to get Allen a little more rest than he got last year, when he played a career-high 964 snaps. Perhaps JFM and Roach can take a few of those, but if Jones is ready right away, he could be part of the equation, too.
Battle to watch: Jackson vs. Uwazurike vs. Henningsen. Jackson took a big step forward last year — remember, GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton said he made the roster easily — and now he’s probably looking at having to make it as the last guy at the position once again. Last year, he played in all 17 games (27% of snaps defensively, 35% on special teams). In the case of Denver’s pair of 2022 Day 3 draft picks, Uwazurike was on the active roster all year last year and Henningsen spent the fall on the practice squad. They’ve both got their work cut out to crack the roster this summer.
Under the radar player: Franklin-Myers. Not that people don’t know who JFM is. His impact on last year’s group, though, might still be underappreciated. Franklin-Myers not only topped 40 pressures (for the fifth straight year, according to Next Gen Stats) and logged a 12.6% pressure rate, but he unlocked Allen in a major way. Defenses couldn’t direct as much attention to Allen and thus both guys got an uptick in one-on-one chances. The Broncos might be able to sign both long-term, but conventional wisdom is that Allen is first in line. Regardless of whether JFM gets a good offer from Denver or hits free agency next spring, he’s turning 29 this fall and will be a motivated player. Another big year, and the 2018 fourth-round pick will cash in.
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