Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/25

Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from active/PUP list: TE Mark Redman

New York Jets

  • Claimed off waivers (from Broncos): CB Mario Goodrich
  • Waived (with injury designation): S Jaylin Simpson

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Danny Gray

Pittsburgh Steelers 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders 

Watkins and Campbell are among the notable veterans who are out for the season unless they wind up being released via an injury settlement and later signing with another team. Watkins left Arizona’s practice early on Thursday, and subsequent evaluation has clearly confirmed a notable injury occurred.

Campbell is dealing with a knee ailment, ESPN’s Todd Archer notes. Injuries have been a near-constant issue for the 28-year-old, who has played a full season only once so far in his career. The Cowboys marked Campbell’s third consecutive NFC East team, but instead of competing for a roster spot he will once again turn his attention to recovery.

Wallace has 96 games and 72 starts to his name, although his 35% defensive snap share with the Broncos last season was by far the lowest of his career. The 30-year-old will head to Jacksonville in time for the preseason. A strong showing through the remainder of training camp could allow him to occupy a backup role in the Jags’ secondary this season.

NFL Minor Transactions: 8/1/25

Here are the first minor NFL moves in August:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

NFL Minor Transactions: 7/31/25

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: WR Chase Cota

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: LB Garrett Nelson
  • Reverted to IR: LB Johnny Walker

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: WR Jaden Smith
  • Waived/injured: S Marcus Banks, RB D.J. Williams

Washington Commanders

  • Activated from active/NFI: OL Tim McKay

The Colts added some experienced cornerback depth today in Tre Herndon and Duke Shelley. Herndon had a long stint in Jacksonville, starting 34 of his 83 appearances with the organization. Shelley has bounced around the league a bit, with his longest stint coming in Chicago between 2019 and 2021. Both players were limited to one appearance each during the 2024 campaign.

The 49ers made a long list of moves today, most notably to their wide receiver depth. Marquez Callaway was limited to two games in Tampa Bay last season, but he compiled 698 receiving yards and six touchdowns as recently as 2021. Andy Isabella has only gotten into 13 total games over the past four years, hauling in five receptions over that span. They’ll be taking the roster spots previously held by former Bears starter Equanimeous St. Brown and former Kansas State standout Malik Knowles.

RB Latavius Murray Retires

After being unable to find an NFL opportunity in 2024, Latavius Murray is hanging up his cleats. The veteran running back announced on Thursday that he is retiring at the age of 35 (video link via NFL insider Jordan Schultz).

A sixth-round pick of the Raiders in 2013, Murray played on a rotational basis the following year before taking on starting duties. He recorded his first and only 1,000-yard campaign in 2015 and secured a Pro Bowl nod in the process. A career-best 12 rushing touchdowns during his final Raiders season set Murray up for a strong free agent market.

The UCF product landed a three-year, $15MM Vikings pact on the open market. Murray ended up spending a pair of seasons in Minnesota where he operated as part of a backfield tandem with Dalvin CookA similar setup was in place with New Orleans when Murray paired with Alvin Kamara for the 2019 and ’20 campaigns, during which he remained a consistent producer on the ground.

Murray caught on with the Ravens in 2021 shortly after being cut. As part of a Baltimore backfield ravaged by preseason injuries, he managed to handle a notable workload before finding himself on the move once again the following season. In 2022, Murray briefly returned to the Saints before signing from the practice squad to the Broncos’ active roster midway through the campaign. That decision set up a starting role to close out the season and helped earn him a Bills pact for 2023.

Logging a 32% snap share with Buffalo, Murray remained healthy but saw his yards per attempt average dip below 4.1 for the first time since 2017. That was a key factor in the Bills’ decision not to retain him, even though Murray was open to an extended stay with the team. After spending last season without a deal, today will mark the end of the line after 10 NFL seasons.

In all, Murray played 158 combined regular and postseason games over the course of his NFL tenure, totaling over 8,000 scrimmage yards and 61 touchdowns. He amassed more than $21MM in career earnings.

Broncos, John Franklin-Myers Haven’t Discussed Extension

With Courtland Sutton now attached to a lucrative new deal, the Broncos front office will shift focus to other veterans. While the likes of Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen have been attached to potential Denver extensions, there’s at least one veteran who will likely play out the 2025 campaign as an impending free agent.

[RELATED: Broncos Extend WR Courtland Sutton]

According to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, there haven’t been any contract negotiations between John Franklin-Myers and the Broncos. The writer notes that the defensive end doesn’t envision completing a new deal before the start of the regular season.

Franklin-Myers is entering the final season of a four-year, $55MM deal ($30.2MM guaranteed) that he inked with the Jets back in 2022. The defensive lineman completed half of that contract in New York before he was dealt to Denver last offseason for a future sixth-round pick.

The veteran proceeded to have one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2024. The 28-year-old finished the year with a career-high 40 tackles and seven sacks while appearing in about 46 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th among 118 interior defenders, including a top-five positional grade for his pass-rushing prowess.

Franklin-Myers skipped OTAs as he pursued a new deal, and the veteran later took to social media to warn the Broncos that both the Rams and Jets regretted moving on from him. The defender was later in attendance for the start of training camp, and it sounds like he’s now given up on securing a new deal ahead of next offseason’s free agency.

Assuming Allen does secure a new contract, the Broncos may feel set with their current depth at the position moving forward. The team used a third-round pick on LSU’s Sai’vion Jones in this year’s draft, and they’re also still rostering Jordan Jackson, who got into 310 snaps for Denver in 2024.

Broncos Extend WR Courtland Sutton

As expected, a deal is indeed in place between Courtland Sutton and the Broncos. The sides agreed to an extension on Monday, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

This will be a four-year pact, per the report. Sutton’s new deal is worth $92MM. It ensures a free agent departure will not be possible next spring and keeps him under contract through the 2029 campaign. The contract contains $41MM in total guarantees, per 9News’ Mike Klis, including $27MM in new locked in compensation. The team has since announced the extension.

Having reported to training camp – but participated on a limited basis – Sutton remained a figure to watch regarding a deal being struck in time for Week 1. Earlier today, reports indicated progress had been made toward a deal. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the news of an agreement was coming soon, and that has now taken place.

Prior to today, Sutton was due to collect $14MM in 2025. The 29-year-old has now secured a raise, albeit one which does not move him particularly close to the top of the receiver market. With an average annual value of $23MM, this extension will move Sutton into a tie with Calvin Ridley for 18th in terms of yearly compensation at the position.

Team and player agreed to a one-year compromise last summer, with 2025 emerging as the time for a long-term arrangement to be made. Nevertheless, the likes of Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen appeared to enter training camp as higher priorities for Denver with respect to working out an extension. In the end, though, it is Sutton who is the first member of that trio to secure a raise. It will be interesting to see if today’s move is followed by other big-ticket agreements for the Broncos.

Sutton has spent his entire seven-year career in the Mile High City, operating as a full-time starter along the way but not always managing to produce at an elite level. The former second-rounder notched 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2019, but he did not duplicate that feat until this past campaign. Enjoying a strong year with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Sutton set a new career high with 81 catches and managed eight touchdowns.

Denver has repeatedly drafted complementary wideouts dating back to before the Payton era began in 2023. As a result, the likes of Marvin MimsDevaughn VeleTroy Franklin and Pat Bryant will be counted on as contributors for Nix’s second NFL season. Out of Denver’s receivers, though, Sutton will of course again be relied on to lead the way. If he can duplicate the success of 2024, the team’s offense could improve from last year’s impressive showing.

This offseason has seen a number of changes made in Denver’s backfield as the team seeks a more consistent run game. It will be interesting to see how the new faces at the running back spot fare, but in any event Sutton will continue as a mainstay and a focal point for Nix to target. That will also be the case well beyond the 2025 campaign.

Broncos, WR Courtland Sutton Nearing Extension Agreement

Courtland Sutton and the Broncos worked out a short-term contract arrangement last year, but the matter of an extension has remained a talking point this offseason. That may change in the near future.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Sean Payton said (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer) a Sutton extension should be in place “soon.” Both Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post and NFL insider Jordan Schultz have offered reports of considerable progress being made with respect to contract talks.

Sutton’s involvement in training camp has varied so far, Mike Klis of 9News notes. The 29-year-old has largely been a non-participant in team drills so far, although Parker adds team and player have an agreement in place regarding his workload. That is, of course, another strong indication a new deal could be in place shortly.

Sutton’s future has been a talking point for quite some time now, with a trade receiving strong consideration in the 2023 offseason. The Pro Bowler nevertheless managed to remain in place with Payton taking over in a receiver room which lost Jerry Jeudy via trade last year. Sutton enjoyed a strong first campaign working alongside rookie quarterback Bo Nix, recording a career-high 81 receptions along with 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns.

That production helped the former second-rounder’s case for another multi-year pact, one which would eliminate the possibility of a free agent departure next spring. Sutton and the Broncos targeted 2025 as the time for such a deal to be worked out. An extension could offer a raise up front compared to the $14MM he is owed while also lowering his scheduled $20.2MM cap charge.

Despite a mutual interest between team and player to hammer out an extension, Sutton was reported to have fallen behind edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive linemen Zach Allen in the pecking order regarding new Broncos commitments. Neither of those two have a deal in place, although a number of discussions on the Bonitto front in particular have taken place. Checking off one box in the form of a Sutton extension would, in any case, set Denver up for stability at the receiver spot as Nix plays out his rookie contract.

The Broncos have taken the draft route several times in recent years to add receivers to complement Sutton. Marvin Mims, Devaughn VeleTroy Franklin and Pat Bryant will all be counted on to provide value in the passing game in 2025 and beyond. Given Nix’s strong connection with Sutton, though, it would come as no surprise if another long-term commitment were to be made. $15MM represented the average annual value the last time that was the case for the SMU product, but with the position now featuring nine players attached to an AAV of $30MM or more, a raise will no doubt be in store if/when a pact is officially in place.

CB Rumors: Flott, Giants, Sneed, Titans, Hill, Bengals, Barron, Broncos, Diggs, Packers

The Giants used a first-round pick on Deonte Banks in 2023 but have not seen the Maryland product justify his draft slot yet. This led to the Paulson Adebo signing. While Adebo is entrenched as a first-stringer, Banks may not be merely set to slide from New York’s No. 1 cornerback to a sidekick role. Cor’Dale Flott‘s latest summer ascent continues, as The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the fourth-year defender received the first crack at the CB2 role during team drills. This appears a full-on competition. Flott had received minicamp work with the 1s, doing so after he impressed last summer en route to a slot-to-boundary shift.

Banks has started all 29 games he has played; being unable to hold off Flott would represent another setback for the former No. 24 overall pick. Flott would not have a path back to the starting slot role were he to lose this battle, as 2024 third-rounder Dru Phillips resides there now. This competition represents a big chance for the 2022 third-round pick, who is due for free agency in 2026.

Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:

Broncos, OLB Nik Bonitto Working Towards Extension

PFR identified Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto as an extension candidate back in December, and three weeks later we saw reports that the team had interest. In May, it was reported that talks had begun with some anticipation of things heating up coming late last month. In the wake of his fellow 2022 NFL draftee George Karlaftis getting a four year, $88MM extension today, Bonitto gave reporters some insight on his own extension talks.

In an interview with Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, Bonitto responded to a question concerning the timing of when an extension may occur. “No time period,” Bonitto said. “I know these things can happen tomorrow or happen months from now. I kind of just keep it day by day and keep the focus on football.” 

Karlaftis’ new deal puts him at 10th in the NFL in terms of average annual value. He hasn’t been a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but he’s been the top sack-getter on a Super Bowl team for the past two years, topping out at 10.5 in 2023 and 24.5 for his career. Bonitto’s output has been a bit different.

Playing behind Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, and Bradley Chubb in his rookie season, Bonitto became a bigger part of the pass rush once Chubb was traded to Miami midway through the season, though he was still coming off the bench. With only one start in 15 games, Bonitto only tallied 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits as a rookie. In Year 2, Bonitto benefitted from an early-season absence from Browning. With four starts in 15 games, Bonitto delivered a much-improved eight-sack performance with 13 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits.

2024 was the breakout season for Bonitto, though. Another early-season injury to Browning opened the door for Bonitto to work as a full-time starter, and when all was said and done, Browning was traded to Arizona, while Bonitto started the remainder of the season. On a defense that finished seventh in yards allowed, third in points allowed, and led the NFL in sacks, Bonitto has the leading sack-getter, logging 13.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 24 quarterback hits, not to mention two forced fumbles, four pass deflections, and a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown.

With Bonitto’s clear upwards progression season after season, the Broncos would do well to lock him down for Karlaftis-esque numbers before he adds another 5.5 sacks to his prior year total and costs himself out of Denver. And they may do just that. Some have speculated, though, that Bonitto’s extension may come in a similar fashion as did Cooper’s last year. Cooper signed his four-year, $60MM deal in November, showing that Denver had no objections to working towards big deals midseason.

Based on Bonitto’s quote, he’s seeing the same things we are. Like Karlaftis’ deal, Bonitto offers that an extension could “happen tomorrow.” Or like Cooper’s deal, an extension could “happen months from now.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/20/25

Here are today’s minor NFL moves to close out the weekend:

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

Olajiga, a London native, joins the roster as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program. The 27-year-old spent the 2024 season on the Rams’ practice squad as an IPP athlete, as well, but didn’t find his way to the field.

Keenum, Johnson, and Molden all passed physicals today, permitting their respective teams to active them off of their injured lists.