Headlines

Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Broncos Decline RFA Tender For Jaleel McLaughlin

By | at February 27, 2026 2:00 pm

After spending the first three seasons of his NFL career in Denver, running back Jaleel McLaughlin is heading for the open market. The Broncos will not tender the restricted free agent a contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.

While the Broncos and McLaughlin are at least temporarily splitting up, he could still re-sign on a cheaper deal. That is a legitimate possibility, according to 9News’ Mike Klis, who points out McLaughlin would have gotten a noticeable raise on his RFA tender. McLaughlin made a $1.03MM base salary in 2025, in which he played just eight games. Tendering him would have cost the Broncos $3.55MM.

Dividing his college career between Division II Notre Dame (Ohio) and FCS Youngstown State, McLaughlin rushed for an NCAA-record 8,155 yards. Nevertheless, nobody drafted the 5-foot-8, 187-pound McLaughin in 2023. He went on to earn a roster spot with the Broncos and average an impressive 5.4 yards per carry on 76 attempts as a rookie. McLaughlin also chipped in 31 catches and three total touchdowns over a 17-game campaign.

With then-Broncos starter Javonte Williams struggling for the second straight season in 2024, McLaughlin took on more work as a runner. He finished the year with career highs in carries (113) and yards (496). McLaughlin’s catch total fell to 24, but he scored three TDs for the second straight year.

Williams left for the Cowboys in free agency last year, and the Broncos replaced him with J.K. Dobbins a few months later. The team had already made a bigger investment in RJ Harvey, whom it drafted 60th overall last April. Although Dobbins missed seven games, he and Harvey still split 299 carries. Those additions led to less action for McLaughin, regularly a healthy scratch before Dobbins suffered a season-ending foot injury in November. While McLaughlin averaged 5.1 yards a carry in 2025, he accrued just 41 touches (37 rushes, four catches) in eight games.

3 comments Denver Broncos Transactions

Broncos Place Second-Round RFA Tender On Ja’Quan McMillian

By | at February 27, 2026 12:05 pm

Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian is heading for restricted free agency after putting together his third straight two-interception season in 2025. The Broncos applied the second-round tender to McMillian on Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. The 25-year-old is now in line to earn around $5.81MM in 2026.

It is unlikely a team would trade a second-rounder for McMillian, who is only a year away from unrestricted free agency. As such, Denver’s decision to issue McMillian a high-level tender should secure his place in its defense for at least another season. As the Broncos’ top slot corner, McMillian holds down a key spot alongside outside starters Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss.

McMillian’s agent told the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson he does not expect the slot corner to receive an offer sheet. While that is to be expected, hence the tender, he mentioned the $16-$18MM-per-year range as reasonable for his client. That would smash the slot CB record — currently held by the Bears’ Kyler Gordon (at $13.33MM AAV). That will be a tough ask for a Broncos team already rostering Surtain at $24MM per year and having six front-seven players signed to veteran contracts.

McMillian’s stock has risen significantly since he joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The former East Carolina Pirate played just one game as a rookie, but he has been on the field for 50 of 51 since then. McMillian has taken on a prominent role since 2023, having finished top three among Broncos cornerbacks in snap share for three years in a row.

As part of an elite defense last season, McMillian played 742 snaps (66.01%). Along with his two INTs, he notched 56 tackles, nine passes defensed, five TFL and a career-high four sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked his performance a superb fourth among 112 qualifying corners.

While McMillian excelled in the regular season, his most memorable play occurred in a divisional-round win over the Bills. With the teams in an overtime battle, McMillian wrestled away what would have been a 43-yard catch for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and turned it into a pick. Had Cooks come down with it, the Bills would have gone on to attempt a game-winning field goal during the ensuing moments. Instead, with McMillian’s help, the Broncos took possession and marched to a 33-30 victory.

4 comments Denver Broncos Transactions

Sean Payton Expects Broncos To Extend GM George Paton

By | at February 25, 2026 8:26 am

George Paton worked with the Saints to acquire Sean Payton‘s rights in 2023, giving up power in the process. The Super Bowl-winning head coach is the lead Broncos decisionmaker now, stepping into that role after Paton’s disastrous 2022.

Denver’s decision to hire Nathaniel Hackett and complete a trade-extension sequence with Russell Wilson set the franchise back, moving Paton to a hot seat considering his lack of a past with the incoming HC. But the Payton-Paton tandem has worked well together, hitting on some key draft choices and completing a round of team-friendly extensions.

[RELATED: Payton Cedes Play-Calling Duties To Davis Webb]

Paton is in the final year of a six-year contract, one agreed to after he succeeded John Elway as Broncos GM. Although rumblings about Vikings interest in a reunion with Paton surfaced, Payton expects an extension for the GM to happen soon.

“It’s overdue,’’ Payton said, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. “I say that respectfully to the process, but he and I have a great working relationship. So my job wouldn’t be as fun or as exciting if he wasn’t a part of it. That should be something that gets handled quickly.”

Denver’s power brokers engineered two playoff berths despite the record-setting Wilson dead cap on the payroll. Wilson’s $32MM number did not impede the Broncos on their path to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That money is now off the books, giving the team an opportunity to build around Bo Nix‘s rookie contract. The Broncos agreed on a host of extensions last year, paying the likes of Zach Allen, Courtland Sutton and Nik Bonitto a year after extending Patrick Surtain, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper and Quinn Meinerz. Six 2025 Pro Bowlers came from that septet, giving Paton more momentum after his rocky start.

Elway lasted 10 years in the GM chair, stepping down after the 2020 season. The Broncos hired Paton, the former Vikings assistant GM who had long been a GM candidate. After three years working with Payton, the seasoned exec looks set to sign another contract this offseason (as lame-duck status would await otherwise).

Elsewhere on the Broncos’ staff, Tomasson adds they are hiring recent Drake staffer Kyle Kempt as an offensive assistant. A former Iowa State quarterback in the 2010s, Kempt served as Drake’s QBs coach last season. He was a Matt Campbell assistant with the Cyclones for six years prior to the Drake move.

2 comments Denver Broncos

Broncos OC Davis Webb To Call Plays

By | at February 24, 2026 4:42 pm

After an impressive three-year run as the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach, Davis Webb earned a promotion to offensive coordinator three weeks ago. There was initially no word on whether Webb or head coach Sean Payton would call offensive plays, but an answer came Tuesday. Payton revealed that he will pass primary play-calling duties to Webb in 2026, Mike Klis of 9News was among those to report.

While the 62-year-old said he still expects “to call some plays on game days” (via Klis), this move represents a seismic shift for Payton. Over his 18 years on the job (15 in New Orleans, three in Denver), the one-time Super Bowl winner has acted as the main play-caller. He first considered handing off those responsibilities to Webb during the 2025 season, according to James Palmer of The Athletic.

Payton noted that he has full trust in the 31-year-old Webb, a former NFL quarterback. He gave Webb a trial run as the Broncos’ play-caller in a preseason win over the Cardinals last August. While it was just an exhibition game, the results – 27 points, 562 yards – were stellar.

Before the Broncos promoted Webb to replace the fired Joe Lombardi, other teams gave him serious consideration as both a head coach and offensive coordinator candidate. The Ravens, Bills and Raiders all discussed their HC openings with Webb. He reached the second-interview stage with the Raiders before bowing out of the race. The Raiders also joined the Eagles in meeting with Webb for their OC gig.

Returning to Denver for his fourth year, Webb will take on a far bigger role than he had as a QBs coach/passing-game coordinator in 2025. He’ll grab the reins of an offense that ranked 10th in yards and 14th in points during an AFC West-winning season. If Webb holds his own calling plays for the Broncos’ Bo Nix-led offense in 2026, he could be an even more popular candidate in next winter’s HC hiring cycle.

6 comments Denver Broncos

Mutual Interest Between Broncos, Mike Zimmer For Senior Coaching Position

By | at February 23, 2026 9:30 pm

The Broncos boasted one of the league’s best defenses in 2025, but head coach Sean Payton is still looking for ways to improve the unit.

To that end, he has spoken with longtime defensive coach Mike Zimmer about a senior position on his staff, per 9News’ Mike Klis. There is mutual interest between the two, but no hire is imminent. Zimmer would likely take on a senior position on Denver’s staff.

Zimmer, 69, has 45 years of coaching experience with 15 years as an NFL defensive coordinator and an eight-season stretch as the Vikings’ head coach. His most recent posting was as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator in 2024; before that, he served as a defensive analyst/consultant on Deion Sanders‘ staff at Jackson State (2022) and Colorado (2023). Zimmer was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator during Sanders’ time in Dallas. The two won Super Bowl XXX together, and Sanders picked up three first-team All-Pro nods from 1996-1998.

Payton and Zimmer do not have any direct history together, but the two are no doubt familiar after facing off several times over the last three decades. Zimmer did work closely with Broncos’ general manager George Paton, who was the Vikings’ assistant GM for much of Zimmer’s time in Minnesota.

Zimmer has run a 4-3 defense during his time as a head coach and coordinator, but that should not affect his ability to contribute to Vance Joseph‘s 3-4 unit. They have not previously coached together, either, but they have run in the same NFL coaching circle for the last two decades.

Adding such an experienced defensive mind certainly does not seem like a bad idea. The Broncos’ defense nearly carried them to the Super Bowl in 2025; if not for Bo Nix‘s injury, they may have faced the Seahawks with a better chance of slowing Sam Darnold and Seattle’s offense. If there is another level to be reached, and Zimmer can help them get there, Denver could be knocking on the door of the Super Bowl once again next season.

0 comments Denver Broncos

Broncos To Re-Hire John Morton

By | at February 22, 2026 1:42 pm

John Morton will once again find himself in Denver for the 2026 campaign. He will occupy a familiar role on Sean Payton‘s staff next season.

Morton is coming back to the Broncos on a full-time basis, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He will once again hold the title of pass-game coordinator. It was in that capacity that Morton worked in Denver during the 2023 and ’24 seasons.

Lats year, Morton was hired by the Lions to serve as Ben Johnson‘s offensive coordinator replacement. Things did not go according to plan in Detroit, to say the least. By the end of the season, head coach Dan Campbell had taken on play-calling duties. That made it no surprise when Morton was dismissed immediately following the conclusion of the regular season.

Morton was not out of work for long, even with his Lions gig coming to an end. The 56-year-old returned to the Broncos in time for their playoff run. As a result, it is certainly not a shock Payton has simply elected to continue having Morton in place on a full-time basis. The most significant difference between Morton’s first Broncos stint and his upcoming one, of course, is the recent change made at the offensive coordinator spot.

Joe Lombardi was fired not long after Denver’s loss in the AFC title game. That paved the way for the highly in-demand Davis Webb to be promoted to OC. It remains to be seen if Payton will hand down play-calling duties to Webb for 2026, but in any case the dynamic between the two will be different than it previously was. Morton, meanwhile, will look to make a seamless transition back to his previous role in Denver. Doing so could help rebuild his stock and lead to future coordinator opportunities.

0 comments Denver Broncos

Broncos Set To Hire Ronald Curry As Wide Receivers Coach

By | at February 19, 2026 2:58 pm

Ronald Curry was on Buffalo’s staff for the last two seasons, but the 46-year-old has spent a sizable portion of his coaching career with Denver’s Sean Payton. After Curry and Payton worked together in New Orleans from 2016-21, they’re set to reunite next season. Curry is expected to take over as the Broncos’ wide receivers coach, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports.

This would represent a role change for Curry, the Bills’ quarterbacks coach from 2024-25. Josh Allen won an MVP during that span, but it wasn’t enough for the Bills to retain Curry this offseason. A divisional-round loss to the Broncos convinced the Bills to fire head coach Sean McDermott and promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady as his replacement. Curry was on Brady’s offensive staff for both years in Buffalo, and the two were also Saints assistants together from 2017-18.

Despite his familiarity with Curry, Brady brought in a new face, Bo Hardegree, as his QBs coach. A few days before that, the Jets and Broncos interviewed Curry for their offensive coordinator jobs. The Jets wound up hiring Frank Reich, while the Broncos made the slam-dunk decision to promote Davis Webb from QBs coach/pass-game coordinator.

The Broncos are now poised to add an experienced Payton assistant and a former NFL receiver to Webb’s offensive staff. Curry, a former basketball player and QB at North Carolina, was a Raiders wideout who hit the 50-catch mark three times from 2002-08.

Curry’s career as an NFL coach began in 2014 as an offensive assistant in San Francisco, where he worked for two years. He went on to wear many hats with the Saints over eight seasons, five of which he spent with Payton. Curry was an offensive assistant for two years, a receivers coach for three, a QBs coach for three and a pass-game coordinator for two.

In rejoining Payton in Denver, Curry will replace fired receivers coach Keary Colbert. He’ll take charge of a group of wideouts featuring Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims. That’s a respectable quartet, but as PFR’s Sam Robinson wrote in his Broncos Offseason Outlook, the team could still explore receiver upgrades in the coming months.

4 comments Denver Broncos

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/18/26

By | at February 18, 2026 5:58 pm

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves from around the NFL…

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers

The 35-year-old Quessenberry, by far the most experienced player in this quartet, has 97 games and 30 starts on his resume. Quessenberry was a sixth-round pick of the Texans in 2013, but a foot injury and then a three-year battle with Lymphoma kept him off the field in his first four seasons. He beat cancer to make his long-awaited NFL debut in 2017. Quessenberry has since gotten into games with the Titans, Bills, Vikings and Rams. In 2025, his first season as a Ram, he made 13 appearances and totaled 91 snaps (73 on special teams, 18 on offense).

Zakelj, 26, has been a career-long 49er since they chose him in the sixth round in 2022. The former Fordham Ram has come off the bench in 27 of 29 appearances, including three last season. Zakelj picked up his only two starts in 2024, his lone 17-game season.

0 comments Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Transactions

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Powers, Raiders, Staff, Tart, Chargers, Chiefs

By | at February 18, 2026 10:15 am

As it stands, the Broncos are the rare team with five offensive linemen signed to eight-figure-per-year contracts. They ensured this status by extending center Luke Wattenberg (four years, $48MM) during their November bye week. Three-year left guard starter Ben Powers was injured when that deal went down, and PFR’s Broncos Offseason Outlook mentioned the veteran as a cut candidate following Wattenberg’s payday. We may be moving closer to that reality.

In predicting how the Broncos will proceed with Powers, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel pegs a release as the most likely outcome. Denver would save $8.4MM by releasing Powers, who signed a four-year deal worth $52MM in 2023. The Broncos signed Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey on Day 1 of the ’23 legal tampering period, and both have helped the team’s O-line complete a turnaround. But the Broncos have since paid Wattenberg and All-Pros Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz. With former UDFA Alex Palczewski replacing Powers for 10 starts last season, he is a candidate to take over at LG.

The Broncos will only make this Powers move if they view Palczewski — a 2023 UDFA who can be kept for one more season via RFA tender — ready to move into the lineup, The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider adds. Powers, 29, has played well when healthy. Run block win rate tabbed him first among all interior O-linemen in 2024, while Pro Football Focus ranked Powers 35th among guards (with Palczewski 62nd) last season. Here is the latest from the AFC West:

  • Klint Kubiak is still assembling his Raiders staff, and another familiar name is on his radar. The Raiders requested permission to interview Vikings assistant Jordan Traylor for their quarterbacks coach position, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Traylor worked with Kubiak with the 2024 Saints, spending six seasons in New Orleans. He served as Vikings assistant QBs coach in 2025. Minnesota has already lost tight ends coach Brian Angelichio to an OC post (with the Steelers) and wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino to the Cardinals. Traylor would represent another defection from Kevin O’Connell‘s offensive staff.
  • The Raiders are also expected to hire Zach Azzani as their wide receivers coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Azzani, 49, previously worked with Kubiak on the 2022 Broncos’ staff. Denver’s five-year WRs coach (2018-22), Azzani coached the Jets’ receivers in 2023 and spent the past two years in that role with the Steelers. Las Vegas would be Azzani’s fifth NFL stop as a receivers coach.
  • Dismissed by the Cowboys as they changed defensive staffs last month, Andre Curtis has found a new home. The Chiefs announced his hire as safeties coach. Curtis, 49, has been an NFL staffer since 2006. He spent seven seasons on Pete Carroll‘s Seattle staffs (2015-21), finishing that tenure with four seasons as the Seahawks’ pass-game coordinator on defense. After three seasons coaching Bears safeties, Curtis worked as the Cowboys’ defensive pass-game coordinator last season. Steve Spagnuolo had Curtis on all three of Rams staffs when the former was St. Louis’ HC from 2009-11.
  • After dodging an ACL tear near the end of the Chiefs’ season, Gardner Minshew has returned to full strength, per Schefter. Minshew, who started in Week 16 but missed Kansas City’s final two games, will be healthy as teams evaluate him as a potential backup or bridge option in free agency.
  • Broncos DB/special-teamer JL Skinner revealed he played the 2025 season with a labrum tear, confirming (via Mile High Sports’ Cody Roark) he underwent surgery recently. One season remains on Skinner’s rookie contract; he saw action on 68% of the Broncos’ special teams plays last season.
  • The Chargers started a bit early in free agency by re-signing Teair Tart. The veteran defensive tackle has done well on his third Bolts deal. Tart re-signed on a three-year, $30MM contract that includes $15MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. This guarantee includes $4.98MM of his 2027 salary. Tart, 29 later this month, played on a one-year, $4.5MM deal in 2025. Both the Titans and Dolphins cut him earlier this decade.
1 comment Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Minnesota Vikings

2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 15, 2026 10:15 pm

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 2-23-26 (10:40pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Drew Petzing)

  • Nathaniel Hackett, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Joe Brady)

  • Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant (Broncos): Hire expected

Chicago Bears (Out: Declan Doyle)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Tommy Rees)

  • Travis Switzer, run-game coordinator (Ravens): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

  • Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interviewed
  • Brian Johnson, pass-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed
  • Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Promoted

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Greg Olson)

  • Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
  • Frisman Jackson, wide receivers coach (Seahawks): To interview

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Mike LaFleur)

  • Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Title enhanced
  • Nate Scheelhaase, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Promoted

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Klint Kubiak)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Zach Orr)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

  • Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired

Cleveland Browns (Out: Jim Schwartz)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Patrick Graham)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

  • Sean Duggan, former linebackers coach (Packers): Hired
  • Clint Hurtt, defensive line coach (Eagles): Interviewed

New England Patriots (Out: Terrell Williams)

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Robert Saleh)

  • Gus Bradley, assistant head coach (49ers): Interviewed
  • Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Hired
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Rumored candidate
  • Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Raiders): Interviewed

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

4 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors