HEADLINES

Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Broncos To Release P Matt Haack

May 9th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

No punting competition appears on tap in Denver. If one does eventually form this offseason, it does not appear it will involve Matt Haack. The Broncos released the veteran punter Friday, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

This move comes shortly after the Broncos drafted Florida punter Jeremy Crawshaw in the sixth round. Crawshaw is now the only punter on Denver’s roster. A journeyman specialist, Haack had joined the team as a free agent before the draft.

Teams who select a punter in a draft generally plan for that player to land the job. The Broncos, as of now, do not look to be making any secret of their plans to install Crawshaw as their punter in 2025 and beyond. Crawshaw’s rookie contract will run through 2028. Haack’s job status certainly changed near the end of the draft, as he would have at least been in line to compete for the gig had Denver not been the first team to draft a punter this year.

Denver made two interesting picks to close the draft, trading down to draft Crawshaw at No. 216 and then using its final choice (No. 241) on seldom-used Utah tight end Caleb Lohner, a converted basketball player. Lohner figures to be competing for a roster spot, while Crawshaw will not. The Broncos have drafted two punters over the past decade, adding Riley Dixon in the 2016 seventh round. Dixon returned to Denver in 2023, but as recent Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi takes the reins as Broncos special teams coordinator, Crawshaw will replace him.

Haack, 30, has punted for five teams over the past four seasons. The former multiyear Dolphins option punted for the Bills, Colts, Browns and Giants from 2021-24. He punted in only five games over the past two seasons, serving as a fill-in option for the past three; the Colts had added Haack as a late-summer replacement for the injured Rigoberto Sanchez.

The Broncos also cut long snapper Zach Triner, Tomasson notes. Triner came in as a temporary option while regular snapper Mitchell Fraboni recovered from back surgery. Fraboni, who became the Denver deep snapper in 2022, was expected to be ready for training camp. It is possible Triner returns, per Tomasson, as the Broncos needed to clear two roster spots by this weekend’s rookie minicamp. Triner spent five-plus seasons in Tampa before a 2024 Miami cameo.

QB Desmond Ridder Will Not Try Out For Broncos

May 8th, 2025 at 4:58pm CST by Ben Levine

MAY 8: Ridder’s tryout will not take place after all. Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post reports the veteran will not actually be in Denver during the team’s rookie minicamp. Ridder will no doubt still have plenty of other opportunities to compete for a roster spot this offseason, though.

MAY 6: Desmond Ridder continues to look for his next gig, and he may find that opportunity in Denver. According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the veteran quarterback will participate at Broncos rookie minicamp as a veteran tryout player.

Ridder got into six games for the Raiders in 2024, but the team didn’t place a tender on him after the season, making him an unrestricted free agent. A number of backup-quality QBs have since signed new contracts, leaving Ridder as one of the few experienced options left on the market. Outside of Aaron Rodgers, the rest of the current free agent options include Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater, and Tyler Huntley.

Ridder got one start for the Raiders last season, completing 23 of his 39 pass attempts for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss to the Falcons. He had a handful of additional relief appearances, and he ultimately finished the season with 85 pass attempts.

The former third-round pick got an extended look as a starter in 2023, when he went 6-7 with the Falcons. He tossed 12 touchdowns vs. 12 interceptions that year, and he added another five touchdowns on the ground. He was traded to the Cardinals after the season and spent the first month of the 2024 campaign on Arizona’s practice squad.

The top of Denver’s depth chart is settled with Bo Nix as the starter and Jarrett Stidham as the QB2. If Ridder does catch on with the Broncos, he would likely compete with Sam Ehlinger for the QB3 role or the first shot at a practice squad gig.

Broncos LB Alex Singleton Still Aiming For Week 1 Return

May 8th, 2025 at 1:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

The timing of Alex Singleton‘s ACL tear raised questions about his ability to rehab in time for the start of the 2025 campaign. The Broncos linebacker recently made it clear he still expects to be at full strength in time for Week 1, though.

“I feel like I’m on schedule. It’s feeling really good,” Singleton said when speaking about his rehab during an interview with DNVR’s Zac Stevens. “I’m working my way in to doing things with the guys, which has been the most important thing to kind of be on that timeline with everyone else during the offseason. I’m able to do that. Full speed ahead for me.”

The 31-year-old noted he does not have a firm timetable for when he will receive full clearance. He has not encountered any setbacks to date, though, and as a result Singleton added “there should be no worries” about his ability to suit up for the start of the season in September. Training camp had previously been targeted as a return date, so this latest update comes as little surprise.

Still, it is notable Singleton remains on track to be cleared by Week 1 given his importance to Denver’s defense. The former CFLer set a new career high with 163 tackles during his debut Broncos campaign in 2022. He upped that figure to 177 the following year. Expectations will remain high for a productive first-team role this year provided the final stages of rehab go according to plan.

Singleton is on the books for one more season, and he is owed $6MM in 2025. A strong showing would help his value on another Broncos pact or one sending him elsewhere on the open market next spring. Denver lost linebacker Cody Barton in free agency, while Zach Cunningham remains unsigned. Justin Strnad was retained, however, and he will aim to provide depth behind Singleton and free agent addition Dre Greenlaw.

The latter will aim to help Denver remain among the league’s top defenses in 2025. The Broncos finished third in points allowed last year, and the new Singleton-Greenlaw tandem at the linebacker spot will be counted on to maintain that strong performance. Both of its members should be on the field for Week 1.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/25

May 7th, 2025 at 7:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Today’s 2025 NFL Draft pick signings as we begin to get into rookie minicamps. Here is another group of mid- to late-rounders who signed their four-year rookie contracts today:

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

The Broncos followed up yesterday’s signing of tight end Caleb Lohner (seventh round, Utah) with rookie contracts for two more of their 2025 draft picks.

Bryant’s 6-foot-2, 204-pound frame, jumping ability, and strong hands make him a reliable receiver at the catch point, but his below-average athleticism will limit his separation in the NFL. He posted 984 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior year at Illinois but will face an uphill battle for playing time as a rookie in a crowded Broncos receiver room.

The Broncos used a sixth-round pick on Crenshaw after moving on from veteran Riley Dixon this offseason. Barring injury or a disastrous training camp, the former Gator will take over as Denver’s punter this season. He was the only punter selected in the 2025 draft.

The Texans surprised many by taking Smith in the third round after he was projected to be a Day 3 pick. His size may restrict him to nickel duties in the NFL, a role he filled in 2022 and 2023 for the Trojans. He played on the outside in 2024 and could still compete for a boundary role in Houston, who just extended safety/nickel defender Jalen Pitre this offseason.

Broncos Considered Trading Up For Ashton Jeanty

May 7th, 2025 at 5:27pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Broncos explored multiple trades during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, including a blockbuster move into the top-10 for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

Denver made no secret of their desire to add a running back during the lead-up to the draft, but the price to trade up was ultimately too high. Snagging Jeanty likely would have required the fifth overall pick considering his pre-draft links to the Raiders, who owned the next selection. Moving up 15 slots from the No. 20 pick could have cost multiple future first-rounders, which was likely a non-starter for the Broncos after losing their top picks in 2022 and 2023 to the ill-fated Russell Wilson trade.

Instead, Denver stood pat at No. 20 and selected Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, who was widely seen as the best player on the board. Terry Joseph, Barron’s defensive pass game coordinator at Texas and cousin of Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, endorsed the versatile defensive back, per Fowler, giving the team even more confidence in their pick.

The Broncos were also interested in Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who went off the board one pick before they were on the clock. Had neither Egbuka nor Barron been available, the Broncos were prepared to trade back for a running back in the first round, discussing terms with the Texans for their pick at No. 25.

In that case, Denver’s target likely would have been another former Buckeye in TreVeyon Henderson, who went to the Patriots with the 38th pick before the Broncos were back on the board. They pivoted to UCF running back R.J. Harvey with their next pick at the end of the second round, allowing them to come away from the draft with a coveted running back without a costly trade up in the first round.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/6/25

May 6th, 2025 at 7:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s draft pick signings:

Denver Broncos

The Broncos kicked off their draft pick signings by inking their final draft pick to a rookie contract. Tight end Caleb Lohner was pick No. 241 in the draft, but the team’s relatively deep depth chart at TE means the rookie could ultimately land on the practice squad. After exclusively playing basketball to begin his collegiate career, the six-foot-eight prospect spent the 2024 campaign on Utah’s football team, where he hauled in four catches for four touchdowns.

Broncos, Nik Bonitto Begin Extension Talks

May 6th, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nik Bonitto picked a good time to deliver a breakout season. The edge rusher market is amid an offseason surge, after a bit of a lull (Nick Bosa‘s contract excluded) in recent years. More deals topping $40MM per year should emerge once T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson are extended. Hutchinson is not a lock to be paid this year, but the Lions dynamo’s trajectory places him as a clear candidate to be paid the new going rate for All-Pro-caliber edge rushers.

Becoming a second-team All-Pro in 2024, Bonitto may not be aiming as high. But it will still cost the Broncos to keep him on a second contract, as the team will seek to do. The former 2022 second-round pick is eyeing a deal at least north of the $20MM-per-year barrier, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes. Bonitto, 25, has said he wants to stay in Denver long term, Tomasson adds. The sides have begun extension talks.

[RELATED: Assessing Bonitto’s Extension Candidacy]

For the Broncos to have Bonitto extension talks start near $20MM AAV would probably be a win for the team, which saw its top edge rusher zoom to a 13.5-sack season that featured defensive touchdowns in back-to-back games. Bonitto, however, displayed difference-making potential in 2023 as well. His 2024 season included only four more QB hits (24) than he racked up in 2023. The Oklahoma product also tallied only three more tackles for loss (16-13) compared to 2023, when he only started four games.

Denver made a key decision about its EDGE future by trading Baron Browning and extending his former Ohio State teammate, Jonathon Cooper, before last year’s deadline. Cooper is signed to a team-friendly accord — four years, $54MM. It will cost far more to extend Bonitto, whose age and early-career production would give him a case to check in much higher than $20MM per year. Another impact season would crystalize that value and likely drive up the price, especially should Watt, Parsons and Hutchinson make $40MM-AAV deals a true salary bracket rather than a Myles Garrett-only zone. Twelve edge rushers are tied to deals worth at least $20MM per year now.

The Broncos carried a top-market OLB salary on their books for five-plus seasons, after having paid Von Miller before the 2016 franchise tag deadline. Denver used the pick the Rams sent over for Miller (No. 64 overall) on Bonitto and then passed on paying Bradley Chubb, trading him in 2022. Thanks to recent salary cap spikes, Bonitto will almost definitely land a higher AAV than Miller’s Broncos or Bills deals produced. When Denver extended Miller at $19.1MM per year nine summers ago, the cap stood at $155.3MM. It is now $279.2MM, creating a landscape in which a $40MM-per-year deal for a top-tier pass rusher can happen. Bonitto can make a case to secure a second-tier EDGE pact.

Bonitto may be the Broncos’ top extension candidate, in terms of earning potential, but the team has both Zach Allen and Courtland Sutton on the re-up radar this year. Sutton talks have begun, while Allen has expressed interest in staying beyond his 2025 contract year. Both players are tied to $15MM-per-year deals, and each has outplayed them. Allen having joined Bonitto as a second-team All-Pro last season offers a complication for the Broncos, who paid Patrick Surtain a then-market-setting rate at cornerback and gave eight-figure AAVs to D.J. Jones, Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw in March.

The Broncos were able lock in Surtain at a favorable rate ($24MM) on a deal that runs through 2029, but if they run into a value gap with Bonitto, a 2026 franchise tag would stand to be in play. While Allen and Sutton money will need to be factored in — if/once extensions are hammered out — the team is projected to hold $69MM-plus in cap space next year. It will carry more flexibility in 2026, as the Russell Wilson dead money will be off the books. Bo Nix must stay on a rookie contract through at least the 2026 season. Though, Nix’s progress — re: a potential 2027 payday — will become a factor as the Broncos consider long-term deals this offseason.

2025 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

May 3rd, 2025 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is every team’s haul from the 2025 NFL Draft:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Read more

Raiders To Hire Broncos’ Brian Stark As Assistant GM

April 30th, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

John Spytek came to Las Vegas from Tampa, but the former Tom Brady college teammate also has a past in Denver. Some of his hires reflect that.

The Raiders hired Broncos exec Mark Thewes to be their senior VP of football operations early this offseason, and they have since made a bigger addition from Denver’s staff. Brian Stark will join the Raiders as assistant general manager, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports.

Spytek and Stark worked together in Denver during the first half of the 2010s, serving under then-GM John Elway. Stark climbed to the Broncos’ director of college scouting post late in Elway’s tenure and stayed on under successor George Paton. The latter also lost his own assistant GM, Darren Mougey, this offseason. Mougey is now the Jets’ GM.

The Broncos interviewed Stark for their GM job in 2021, but Paton kept him around despite that. Stark had been viewed as a rising exec at the time, and this climb could potentially put him on the GM radar moving forward. Stark has not interviewed for a GM job since that Broncos meeting four years ago. He was likely to see a promotion in Denver this offseason, considering the turnover on the Broncos’ staff, Insidetheleague.com’s Neil Stratton adds.

Although it took a while for the Broncos to recover from Peyton Manning‘s retirement, they rebuilt around a new core that helped Bo Nix pilot the 2024 roster to the playoffs. The Broncos also gave up three first-round picks in trades for Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, limiting their draft capital this decade. The team has, however, found impact players in Patrick Surtain, Quinn Meinerz and Nik Bonitto this decade. Jonathon Cooper also recently earned an extension, after rising from seventh-round pick to starter. Marvin Mims, a 2023 second-round pick, has also earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro honors.

It is not known who holds the roster-control hammer in Las Vegas just yet, as a collaborative approach (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) took place in the draft last week. This marked a change from recent drafts, per Tafur. Brady, Spytek and Pete Carroll each have significant input. That stands to limit the influence of an assistant GM, but Spytek is bringing aboard one of his former coworkers to help the cause.

In addition to Stark, the Raiders are hiring former Jets staffer Johnathon Stigall as their assistant director of college scouting, Stratton tweets. Stigall had been with the Jets since 2014, moving into the role of national scout last year. With the Jets restructuring under Mougey, he will head to Vegas to help out under Spytek. Stigall has been in the NFL since 1999, having worked previously with the Browns, Eagles, Dolphins and Bears.

Broncos Eyed RB TreVeyon Henderson In Round 1

April 29th, 2025 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bolstering their secondary by choosing Jahdae Barron, the Broncos next turned to what many considered their top need. The team drafted Central Florida running back R.J. Harvey at No. 60 overall.

While Harvey is expected to quickly push to the head of a Denver backfield committee, the team was connected to first-round running backs in mock drafts for months. Sean Payton said the trade-up rumors surrounding his team were unfounded, but the Broncos did eye at least one RB via a trade-down maneuver during the first round.

It is believed Denver was interested in Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson in the event of a first-round trade-down move, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. GM George Paton said after Round 1 one running back drew interest from the team, and it is interesting that it does not appear to have been Omarion Hampton — the North Carolina product many had going to Denver at No. 20.

Hampton went two spots later to the Chargers. Henderson was viewed as a threat to be the draft’s third RB off the board. That nearly came to fruition, but the Browns took fellow Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins first. Henderson went two picks later, at No. 38, to the Patriots. The Broncos met with Hampton, Judkins, Henderson and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson on “30” visits.

It will be Harvey set to team with Jaleel McLaughlin and 2024 fifth-round pick Audric Estime. Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency. The Broncos deemed a trade-down move (via the Panthers) to No. 57 a safe play due to not deeming the teams behind their No. 51 spot as a particularly RB-needy lot, Gabriel adds. The team then dropped three more spots in a trade with the Lions.

Receiving rave reviews for his pass-protection skills, Henderson also drew attention for his potential as a receiving option. Payton has generated considerable value from receiving backs throughout his career, as the likes of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara became central pieces in his Saints offenses. Payton has yet to find that in Denver, continually expressing a desire to add a “joker” to his offense.

The Broncos now have Harvey and Evan Engram, the latter being added after the team’s post-Noah Fant offenses received little tight end contributions. But Henderson checked in with a higher profile compared to Harvey, who dazzled at the mid-major level before clocking a 4.40-second Combine 40-yard time. (Henderson ranked 32nd on Daniel Jeremiah’s final NFL.com big board this year, while Harvey was 99th.) Henderson battled injuries with the Buckeyes but was one of the nation’s top RBs when healthy. That included last season, when he and Judkins formed a 1,000-1,000 tandem to help the team to a national championship. Henderson paced the Big Ten with a 7.1-yard average per carry, totaling 1,300 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs.

Elsewhere on Denver’s roster, the team will use third-round pick Sai’vion Jones as a defensive end in their 3-4 scheme, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. Although LSU had played Jones as an edge defender, his 283-pound frame aligns more closely with a five-technique player. The Broncos have both their starting D-ends — Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers — in contract years. While both appear extension candidates during Bo Nix‘s rookie contract, Jones adds a potential option in the event the team does not pay one of them.

Denver long snapper Mitchell Fraboni underwent back surgery recently, per Klis, who describes it as a cleanup. Fraboni, who has been with the Broncos since 2022, is expected to be ready for training camp. The team has him signed through the 2027 season. Recent addition Zach Triner will snap during the team’s offseason program, though it does not yet sound like this is a competition.

Load More Posts