The Denver Broncos are 8-2 in Year 2 of quarterback Bo Nix. While Denver is poised for a consecutive playoff appearance, it’s never too early to look at impending free agents. That said, the Broncos have a scheduled free agent on the defensive line. Part of the defensive line quartet, John Franklin-Myers, 29, is set to be a free agent after the 2025 season.
Examining John Franklin-Myers’ Impending Free Agency
Denver’s defense is No. 1 in PFSN’s Defense Impact Score, while Franklin-Myers is No. 21 in PFSN’s DT Impact Score. In fact, last week, he was No. 11 in Week 10 with an 82.1 impact score. That said, on Wednesday, ESPN’s Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler published an early top 25 ranking and long-form predictions piece. In it, Franklin-Myers is ranked No. 13.
“Franklin-Myers lacks the lateral speed and bend to turn pressures into a bunch of sacks from edge alignments. But he’s an active inside rusher who can play as a defensive tackle or 5-technique with his 6-foot-4, 288-pound frame. Franklin-Myers has 4.5 sacks this season,” Bowen wrote.
Franklin-Myers is one of four Broncos defenders with four-plus sacks through 10 weeks. He is tied for third in tackles for loss as well (four). Because quarterback Bo Nix is on a cost-effective rookie contract, the Broncos should re-sign Franklin-Myers. Wilson’s largest dead cap hit in league history will be off the books in 2026 as well. That’s roughly 10% of cap space now available. Use some of it on Franklin-Myers. Fowler continued.
“Having paid several key defensive players in the past year, the Broncos know they very well could lose Franklin-Myers to free agency. Inside rushers, 3-4 defensive ends or defensive tackles, with pass-rush ability get paid, and Franklin-Myers has 11.5 sacks since joining Denver via trade from New York in 2024,” Fowler wrote.
The problem is the Broncos may be outbid for Franklin-Myers, like the last Athletic Greens being bought on eBay. This season, he is making $8 million. The Broncos should go up to $11 million a year to retain Franklin-Myers. Denver re-signed fellow 3-4 DE D.J. Jones to a three-year, $39 million contract with $26 million guaranteed before the 2025 season.
Elsewhere, the Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. A win drops the Chiefs’ odds to win the division to 3%. In addition, Kansas City’s playoff odds would drop to 46.4%.