Denver Broncos could have their hands full this offseason with one of their 13 unrestricted free agents
It's hard to retain a unit that was the best pass rush in the league in 2024. But, the Denver Broncos will try to do that. Look at the Philadelphia Eagles a few years ago, when they nearly broke the all-time team record for sacks in a season. That was in 2022 for the Eagles, […]
It's hard to retain a unit that was the best pass rush in the league in 2024. But, the Denver Broncos will try to do that. Look at the Philadelphia Eagles a few years ago, when they nearly broke the all-time team record for sacks in a season. That was in 2022 for the Eagles, and this year, they were 14th in sacks per game, while the Broncos were first.
It's amazing how differently a team performs on the field two years apart. That's not to say the Eagles have a bad defense, because they don't. But they weren't able to continue that elite pass rush two years later because players leave, retire, and all sorts of things happen. The Broncos are going to try to make sure that doesn't happen to them.
Denver finished with the most sacks as a team this season, and they certainly had the most pressures. While Zach Allen, their best interior player, is locked down on a contract, the Broncos still have to address one more area of their interior defensive line.
D.J. Jones needs an extension, as he is set to become one of their 13 unrestricted free agents. He will be a name that many teams want, too, primarily because of his ability to apply pressure on the quarterback and be super reliable in the run game. He may demand a hefty contract, but the Broncos want him anyway.
"Denver has been proactive in re-signing key players, with corner Pat Surtain II and left tackle Garett Bolles in recent months. Jones — an anchor for Denver's top-10 rushing defense — could be next." – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.
Here's where the Broncos could have their hands full: The Broncos struggled under the same management of George Paton, to get a deal done with Dre'Mont Jones a few years ago. The Seattle Seahawks wanted Dre'Mont Jones in the Russell Wilson trade a few years ago. The Broncos said no, likely because they respected him enough to keep him. But, he was on an expiring contract, so the thought from Dre'Mont Jones was that he would get a contract extension.
"I mean, s–t, they should have just traded me from the jump," Jones said of the Broncos. "I was included in the (Wilson) trade. Denver said no. And then, Denver kind of … I don't want to say that word—but Denver didn't pay me my proper respects. So, I'm here, because (the Seahawks) respected me from the jump."
They failed to reach an agreement, and Dre'Mont Jones ended up landing in Seattle anyway.
The Broncos are hoping that contract talks with D.J. Jones don't go sideways like those did. They want him in Denver and are likely going to be paying a hefty sum of money to make that happen. But, he's a name that a lot of teams are going to want. So, they could have their hands full this offseason.
Things are pretty quiet right now, as the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are about to play in the AFC Championship, with the Eagles and Washington Commanders playing in the NFC Championship. But, when free agency gets closer, the drama and rumors will start to fly.
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