The Denver Broncos secured a key piece in the trenches, extending center Luke Wattenberg on a four-year pact. However, the Broncos’ slew of in-house deals in recent months has apparently left John Franklin-Myers on the outside looking in.
Moreover, Franklin-Myers has good reason to believe that the situation is not going to change.
The writing may have been on the wall. And while Franklin-Myers is playing nice with his teammates, his contention with the Broncos’ front office appears to be growing.
John Franklin-Myers Shares Message Calling Out Broncos
GettyJohn Franklin-Myers #98 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Broncos are expected to have about $50 million in cap space in 2026 with 53 players already under contract,” Denver Broncos Debrief’s Joe Rowles posted on X on November 25. “All this talk that they can’t pay John Franklin-Myers is pure spin. If they wanted to, they could.”
Franklin-Myers shared the post but undid the action. Franklin-Myers is in his second season with the Broncos, who acquired him in a trade from the New York Jets during the 2024 draft.
He is part of the NFL’s leader in sacks over the past season-plus.
Franklin-Myers has logged 11.5 sacks in his 28 games played for the Broncos since the start of 2024. Franklin-Myers ranks 16th in sacks among all defenders, and fourth among interior defensive linemen, in that span, per Stathead. He is also 10th in QB pressures among his position.
Franklin-Myers’ expiring two-year, $15 million contract ranks 39th in total value among IDLs. Broncos teammate Zach Allen is one of the players who has more sacks and pressures.
Allen was a free agent pickup in 2023.
He signed a four-year, $102 million extension in August. Meanwhile, Franklin-Myers, whom Rowles called “underrated,” previously noted that he was happy to see his teammates get paid – he notably shared a post lauding Wattenberg – and that they all could.
John Franklin-Myers Gets Bad News
GettyJohn Franklin-Myers #98 of the Denver Broncos warms up before facing the Buffalo Bills with the New York Jets.
However, he has also suggested that the perceived trend of Broncos general manager George Paton rewarding their players may not be what it seems, at least not for him. Franklin-Myers may have been correct.
Franklin-Myers offered a matter-of-fact response to questions about whether he expected to receive at least an offer.
He noted that the NFL is a business.
“I’m here to play football whether they pay me or not,’’ Franklin-Myers said, per The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson in August. “If not, I’ll be a free agent this offseason and my time is going to come.”
According to Tomasson, the latter outcome remains expected.
“Source says #Broncos haven’t expressed interest in a possible extension during the season for DL John Franklin-Myers,” Tomasson reported on X on November 24.
That came after the Broncos signed kicker Wil Lutz to a three-year extension. The full terms of Lutz’s extension have not been disclosed. However, he is now the ninth-highest-paid kicker in terms of 2025 salary.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton suggested he and Paton had discussed other extensions.
Broncos Telegraphed Decision
GettySai’vion Jones #95 of the Denver Broncos drives against Jeremiah Byers #67 of the Arizona Cardinals.
The Broncos may have given the biggest signal of their plans for Franklin-Myers during the 2025 draft. Then, the Broncos used the No. 101 overall pick to select former LSU Tigers defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones.
That, in conjunction with the Broncos’ myriad other investments, painted a grim picture of Franklin-Myers’ future in the Mile High City.
“It’s hard to see the Broncos rewarding three players before the season starts. It is not impossible. But it feels unlikely,” The Denver Post’s Troy Renck wrote in June. “This math and the drafting of Sai’vion Jones are why no one expects standout defensive end John Franklin-Myers to get a new deal.”
Notably, Franklin-Myers has pushed Jones to “take my job,” per Tomasson on November 20.
Franklin-Myers remained open-minded about his future back in August. There also remains outside interest in him, even from former Jets teammate and fellow defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson.
“‘Disappointed’ is a strong word,” Franklin-Myers said in August when asked directly. “We all just want to feel wanted.”
Fortunately for the Broncos, Franklin-Myers will play hard regardless, saying, “It is what it is.”
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