SURPRISE: Predicting the Broncos' Free Agency Haul in 2026

We're putting together an off-season hall to get the Denver Broncos a Super Bowl on

today's episode Lockdown Broncos.

You are Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast

network, your team, every day. We are just days away from the Denver Broncos being able to

add impact players to the roster. At least on paper, as the legal negotiating period is set

to take place on Monday, March 9th with free agency kicking off on Wednesday, March 11th.

And we expect the Denver Broncos to be aggressive. We'll see if they bring back their own guys,

if they look to the outside for all of their big time additions. But on today's episode Lockdown

Broncos, we are going to be solely focusing on players from the outside that they could be looking

to bring in. So we're going to make some predictions of some players that they could target on

this show today, not only in free agency, but maybe we talk about some trade options as well.

Broncos country, thanks so much for tuning in today. And every single day, my name is Sarah

Pettinger. I'm the co-host here of Lockdown Broncos as well as the site expert at predominantly

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Let's predict an offseason hall for the Denver Broncos. We know this team's needs, right?

They're missing starters at running back, tight end, linebacker, also plenty of rumors over

the last year or so that they've been looking at wide receiver upgrades. And I think it's fair to

expect that they'll be doing the same here again in the 2026 offseason, although not nearly as much

buzz about that as there has been in previous years. Maybe there's something to that Broncos country.

But let's start with the running back position, right? Because we expect the Broncos to take a swing

at running back. You feel like this team is poised, you know, maybe the top of the market is an

option, but I also think all options are on the table when it comes to running back, right? And

that includes bringing back JK Dobbins in some capacity, whether it's in tandem with somebody else,

or maybe the Broncosers don't like the market for some of these other guys. There's been reports

and rumors that they've been interested in Breeze Hall and that Breeze Hall is interested in them

that the Broncos essentially forced the New York Jets hand when it comes to the non-exclusive

franchise tag. I can't necessarily even say you rule out the idea of Breeze Hall if the Broncos

are that enamored with his skillset in their offense, could swing a trade with the Jets? It's not

impossible. Well, let's focus on free agents because right now the top of this market, it's Kenneth

Walker, Super Bowl MVP, then you've got Travis ETN, former first round pick of the Jaguars

and an experienced veteran who brings a lot to the table. And then Tyler Algier, who kind of

represents this intriguing upside option, I think for my official predictions, I'm going to go

with Tyler Algier. I think the Broncos will be interested in Kenneth Walker, but I think also

they might be just helping drive up the price of that position group for what reasons. We'll find

out when the free agency festivities get started, but I don't necessarily know that the Broncos

will be in on somebody like Kenneth Walker at 14 to 16 million per season. Maybe I'm wrong

about that. Maybe they will be, I don't think it's even a bad idea for them to be Travis ETN.

He's going to be 27 going on 28. Tyler Algier is somebody who doesn't have a ton of, you know,

wear and tear on his body. He's been the backup to Bijan Robinson over the last handful of years.

And listen to some of these figures from Ian Hartitz on Twitter, all time NFL leader for most

career touches without a fumble, 737. Pro football focuses second highest graded past blocking running

back in 2025. We know that's important. The Broncos high volume passing attack, 1,035 rushing yards

on 4.9 yards per carry in the only season that he had there in Atlanta without Bijan Robinson,

which was back in his rookie year. And then a 51.6% career success rate, the 12th best mark

among 56 running backs since 2022. So I think there's going to be a really good market for Tyler

Algier. I think he gets a three year deal worth somewhere around, you know, 20 to 24 million

in total money. I think that's a very reasonable cost to sign him. And I think he could be expected

to be that featured back along with RJ Harvey in Denver. But I'm also going to throw this out there

because of Algier's lack of experience. Let's call it with Bijan Robinson. I think the Broncos

will be inclined to try at least to also bring back JK Dobbins if they sign someone like Algier.

I don't think it's going to take up too much of the salary cat pie to be able to do that. And I

think JK Dobbins will come into free agency with a bit of a self awareness about his own injury

history, right? He definitely doesn't like the idea that he's injury prone. And I don't blame him

for that. But at the same time, you have to acknowledge the injury history and that the Broncos have

to set themselves up for a deep playoff run. And so they've got to make sure that they address

depth. I don't love the running back depth in this draft. I think the Broncos would be wise

to go with Tyler Algier and JK Dobbins to address that running back position in free agency.

So let me know if you think the Broncos should go after Kenneth Walker, Travis ETN, even somebody else

in free agency or a trade, or if they should go with what I'm predicting, Tyler Algier and JK Dobbins.

I think that's a really strong move. You almost get two for less than the price of one there,

potentially with those two guys. And then the tight end position, the Broncos need a starter.

I think there's a decent chance that they'll bring back Adam Trapman. I know that there's been

already rumors that the Broncos are interested in that. But Trapman is also 29. He has very limited

upside in the passing game. And I think the Broncos could look at an upgrade all around in the

talent department. Somebody who can play on the line of scrimmage, somebody who can block,

somebody who can catch. I love the idea of this team trading for Cole Comet. He's got two

years left on his deal with the Chicago Bears. And when you look at that contract, it's very,

very reasonable in terms of base salary. Base salaries in 2026 and 2027 of just 8.9 million.

That's a fraction of the salary cap right now. And for the Denver Broncos, getting a player like

that for two seasons, entering his prime, Colson Loveland is going to be playing the majority of

the snaps there for the Bears. And yes, teams want to have depth. But the Bears also want to be able

to bring in elite past rushers for their defense. And you have to have cap space to do that.

They've also got a replace now. They're starting center who just surprisingly retired. So

I would not be surprised if the Bears had players like Cole Comet, maybe even DJ Moore,

who'd be a fun option for the Broncos, available in a reasonable trade. Like you might be able to get

Cole Comet for a day three draft pick or something like that. So if, if, if not Cole Comet,

I'm going to say the Broncos going for agency and sign somebody like Cade Otton. I think he's a

good fit for this offense. I think he can play in line. It allows you to utilize both he and

Evan Ingram. But those two options, I think one or the other, as opposed to the running back where

I'm saying, Hey, let's go get both Tyler Algier and JK Dobbins. I think at tight end, I would love

to see either or a signing of Cade Otton or a trade for Cole Comet. Keep it within a reasonable

budget. But those two position groups aren't going to break the bank when it comes to NFL free

agency. Anyway, I think the Broncos have other avenues in which they can explore potentially breaking

the bank. And we're going to get into that coming up next on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos.

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NFL application times and rates may vary. In the unexpected splash on the offensive side of the

ball could be on the way for the Denver Broncos and NFL free agency. We're going to break it down

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All caps for one month free free agency. One word, all caps. Let's talk about the big splash.

I think the Broncos are going to make an little spoiler alert for tomorrow's lockdown Broncos show.

I think there's no real buzz about this happening right now. And there's a lot of other teams out

there that need wider receiver help. But we know the Broncos have been interested at least to some

degree on a number of wide receiver moves over the course of the last couple seasons. Jalen Waddle,

they checked in on him at the NFL trade deadline. Ultimately, the dolphins asking price was too high.

They were interested in potentially signing and even reportedly finished second in the bidding

for Stefan digs in free agency just last off season. So the Broncos, they're interested in upgrading

that position. What about Alec Pierce? Now that Alec Pierce is hitting free agency. Here again,

we get into free agency predictions. The Broncos aren't always going to do what we all want them to do.

Me personally, do I want the Broncos to sign Alec Pierce? Well, I'd be excited about it.

I'd be excited about the potential of what he brings to the offense as a vertical threat,

especially because the Broncos, man, they really struggled to push the ball vertically last year

after doing a great job of that back in 2024. Alec Pierce can help with that tremendously,

but the cost to get into that show is pretty substantial. I mean, we're talking potentially

upwards of 25 to 30 million per season. A lot of folks just immediately out at that price,

but keep in mind, with the salary cap over 300 million and climbing, signing Alec Pierce to a contract

worth, let's say 27 million now is roughly similar to what it would be four years ago or so

signing him to a contract worth 18 to 20 million. It's about that same percentage of the salary cap.

So I think I think I'm predicting even that the Broncos with no buzz about this whatsoever

have effectively thrown everybody off the scent that they are going to give a big money deal.

Let's say four years over a hundred million to Alec Pierce. I think there's a really good

possibility of that. I think that the Broncos have shown that they're interested in upgrading

the wide receiver position. Corten Sutton was resigned, but I don't think that's prohibitive when

it comes to signing a player like Alec Pierce. I think the Broncos will like his skill set, his size,

his speed, the fact that he's, you know, only 25 going on 26 years old. I think there's a lot of

meat left on the bone when it comes to his overall skill set. And this is the right time to support

your quarterback by going after somebody. Well, it could be a trade for a veteran. It could be

signing a player like Alec Pierce, or maybe somebody a little bit less high profile. Maybe a

Romeo dobs haven't really heard much of anything about him in terms of free agency, but he's also

an intriguing name. I just think that the Broncos are going to go from left field with somebody.

And we've seen that in years past. There's certain things that they don't want anybody to know about.

So they're leaking specific information like about the running back position. I have a feeling

just a gut hunch that it could be because they're going to make a huge substantial offer

to Alec Pierce to come and upgrade that wide receiver position. I also think there's a chance

that that big splash could happen at linebacker once again, although we know that the Broncos have

already started discussions about potentially bringing back Alec Singleton. I think that the best

option and I'm sort of manifesting this as you've heard maybe previously on the show that I

think the Broncos need to sign Kate and Ellis to a short term deal, maybe two to three year deal

worth 30 million or so, a really fair deal for a linebacker who is one of the best past rushing

off-ball linebackers in the NFL. 380 combined tackles over the last three seasons,

averaging roughly 10 tackles for loss per season can play all three down to not just as a past

rusher, but really effective and coverage as well. I think he just fits in with what this Broncos

team looks for at that position. And just in terms of that culture defensively plus, he'd get to reunite

with Sean Payton, who drafted him back in 2019. He'd also get to play with his younger brother Jonah.

So I think there's a lot of valid reasons why Kate and Ellis signing in Denver makes a ton of

sense this off season. So in case we need a recap here, this is how I'm predicting and remember,

again, these were all outside free agent or trade candidates, right? We're not talking about,

I think the Broncos are going to resign this guy, which I think they could resign singleton.

They could resign Adam Trotman. They could resign JK Dobbins. I'm predicting some of the biggest

holes that are getting filled. I'm going to say Tyler Algier at running back. And then one of

either Kate Oton or Cole Comet at the tight end position, I'm going to say Kate and Ellis at the

linebacker position. And then I'm going to say a big splash that nobody really sees coming right

now. Alec Pierce at the wide receiver position. Let me know Broncos country, but you would think of

that free agency hall because I know some of these names. I mean, you'd be upset at the Broncos past

on bigger name running backs for Tyler Algier. And then some are saying, no, no, no, they want to go

for the more reasonable price option and take a chance on his upside. It could be the offense

as version of a Brandon Jones signing, right? And then some they'll love the idea of Alec Pierce

adding his explosiveness to the offense. Others will say, no way I'm paying upwards of 25 to 30

million per year for somebody who didn't even catch 50 passes last year. We want to know your

thoughts. We want to know your predictions for free agency as well. What do you think is going to

happen? What predict your first signing? Let us know in the comments when the, you know, when

festivities get started, everybody posts there and here we go. You know, they post that GIF

on Twitter and everything. Who's the first signing the Broncos are going to make? Let us know in

the comment section of Broncos country. We appreciate you so much for tuning in today and every

single day and we'll have you covered all throughout NFL free agency. We appreciate you. We'll catch

you on the next episode of the show.