National media outlet says key Broncos free agent is a ‘strong candidate’ to remain in Denver
The Denver Broncos have several key players set to hit free agency.
The Denver Broncos have 22 players that are set to be free agents when the new league year begins in March.
CBS Sports identified one pending restricted free agent out of that group as someone Denver can’t afford to lose this offseason.
CBS Sports says the Broncos can’t afford to lose cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian
On Thursday, CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles identified one free agent that each NFL franchise can’t afford to lose this offseason.
Pereles went with cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian for the Broncos.
McMillan, a former East Carolina standout from Winston-Salem, NC, went undrafted in 2022, but he’s found a nice home in Denver as he’s played in 51 games with 17 starts for the Broncos over the last four seasons.
The North Carolina native memorably (and perhaps controversially) came down with a key interception in overtime of the Broncos’ win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs.
“The Broncos have several players who fit the bill here, but Ja’Quan McMillian really stands out. He’s a restricted free agent, meaning the Broncos will have the upper hand, if they so choose, via a tender,” wrote Pereles. “McMillian, 25, had a pair of interceptions and four sacks in 2025. He was one of just six players — and the only defensive back — to reach both marks. He also had the Broncos’ biggest play of the year, picking off Josh Allen in the playoffs. A versatile, talented player, McMillian is a strong candidate to stay in Denver.”
It seems extremely unlikely that Denver will let McMillan get away.
Since he’s a restricted free agent, the Broncos will have to place a tender on McMillan (first-round, second-round, etc.). At that point, other teams can still negotiate with him. However, if another team makes an offer, the Broncos would be able to match it. If Denver doesn’t match the offer, the other team would have to give the Broncos the draft pick that corresponds with the tender (a first-round tender would require a first-round pick, etc).
The Broncos could also choose to work out an extension with McMillan, who has totaled 188 tackles and six interceptions over the last three seasons.
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