The Denver Broncos signed 3-4 DE Malcolm Roach to a three-year contract extension on Wednesday. It’s a slightly surprising move. Because starting 3-4 DE John Franklin-Myers is also an impending free agent. While the Broncos can still extend Franklin-Myers before the start of the new league year in March, Roach’s extension lowers the odds. More on this below.
Malcolm Roach vs. John Franklin-Myers
For all intents and purposes, it appears the Broncos chose Roach over Franklin-Myers. That means the latter’s price tag is probably higher than his projected market value of $8.5 million. For reference, Franklin-Myers’ current contract’s annual salary is $7.5 million. Roach, meanwhile, fetched up to $29.25 million over three seasons with $14 million guaranteed, according to The Athletic.
With $25.5 million going to fellow 3-4 DE Zach Allen, No. 9 in PFSN’s DT Impact Score, a year, and $13 million going to fellow 3-4 DE D.J. Jones, No. 60 in PFSN’s DT Impact Score, a year, it looks like Roach’s signing signals 2025 as Franklin-Myers’ last season with the Broncos. Because that’s before accounting for EDGE rusher Nik Bonitto’s $26.5 million a year and EDGE rusher Jonathon Cooper’s $13.5 million a year, respectively.
All told, that’s $78.5 million a year to four players. And they all play on the defensive line. Roach, meanwhile, is No. 17 in PFSN’s DT Impact Score, while Franklin-Myers is No. 26. Broncos general manager George Paton is making an asymmetrical bet. If Roach’s extension backfires, it’s essentially a one-year, $14 million contract. In other words, Paton can cut bait. For reference, the Broncos’ 2026 cap space is roughly $250 million.
So, $14 million is just over five percent of the cap. That said, Roach has four and a half sacks in 23 games with the Broncos. That’s after totaling one sack in four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. This season, though, Roach has two sacks, three QB hits, and 21 total tackles.
Franklin-Myers, meanwhile, totals four and a half sacks, eight QB hits, four tackles for loss, and 19 total tackles. Elsewhere for the Broncos, Denver extended interior offensive linemen Luke Wattenberg this week as well. While the Broncos are handing out extensions, there’s no bigger fish to fry than luring A.J. Brown to Denver.