Broncos Are Expected to Lock Up John Franklin-Myers With a Massive Deal Before Free Agency
As the 2026 offseason approaches, the Denver Broncos find themselves at a familiar crossroads — deciding whether to pay a premium to keep a core defensive piece or risk losing him to a market eager to spend. This time, the name at the center of that decision is John Franklin-Myers, whose value has quietly surged league-wide.
Franklin-Myers is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month, but many around the league believe Denver has little incentive to let the situation reach that point. In a defensive line market thin on true impact interior players, his leverage is stronger than it appears on the surface.
Analysts at Pro Football Focus have already projected Franklin-Myers to command a deal in the range of three years and $45 million, a figure that would place him near the top of the 2026 interior defensive free-agent class. The reasoning is simple: scarcity drives price, and disruptive interior rushers are increasingly rare.
Since arriving in Denver via trade from the New York Jets in 2024, Franklin-Myers has delivered exactly what the Broncos hoped for. Over 33 games, he produced 14.5 sacks, 33 quarterback hits, and 14 tackles for loss, while setting a career high with 7.5 sacks in 2025. His impact consistently showed up beyond the box score, particularly in how often opposing quarterbacks were forced off their spots.
What separates Franklin-Myers from many interior defenders is efficiency. Over the past two seasons, he ranked in the 96th percentile among interior linemen in both pass-rush grade and pass-rush win rate. Those metrics reinforce what film already suggests: he wins quickly, collapses pockets, and changes protections before the snap.
From Denver’s perspective, the complication is financial. The Broncos have already committed significant resources to players like Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, and Patrick Surtain II, tightening their margin for error under the cap. Yet internally, there is growing belief that replacing Franklin-Myers would be more costly than retaining him.
When my time comes, it comes.
That brief remark, made late in the season, reflected an understanding of the business side of the league. But it also underscored the reality that Franklin-Myers knows his market — and so do the Broncos.
If Denver allows him to reach free agency, teams such as the Houston Texans are expected to pursue him aggressively. For a defense built around pressure and disruption, Franklin-Myers fits seamlessly.
For the Broncos, the calculus is becoming clearer. Acting early may be the only way to control the outcome. A decisive extension would not only secure a cornerstone of their defensive front, but also prevent a bidding war that could quickly push his price even higher.
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