The National Football League’s free agency period officially kicked off with the advent of the legal tampering period this morning. While teams can negotiate deals with free agents, they cannot become official until this Wednesday.
The Denver Broncos were among the most active teams to start the festivities. With the inside linebacker market drying up yesterday, the Broncos pivoted their strategy and made their first big investment by keeping a key member of their defense from last season in the fold.
They agreed to terms on a three-year contract with nose tackle D.J. Jones. That deal was followed up with a two-year extension for in-house backup tackle Matt Peart. But the fun didn’t stop there. Their first big outside signing was bringing in former San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. They added his teammate Dre Greenlaw to upgrade the linebacker position as well.
What should Broncos Country make of these signings? And what other news tidbits should everyone be paying attention to? Let’s delve into some of my thoughts from today’s free agency frenzy and where the Broncos go from here.
Bolstering the secondary: my thoughts on signing Talanoa Hufanga
With P.J. Locke struggling last season, the Broncos’ brass made it a priority to add a starter opposite of Brandon Jones. Earlier in the afternoon, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Broncos came to terms with safety Talanoa Hufanga. It’s a three-year contract worth up to $45 million dollars with $20 million guaranteed.
A former Pro-Bowl and All-Pro player for the 49ers in 2022, Hufanga has missed extensive time the past two seasons. An ACL tear in 2023 and a wrist injury in 2024 limited him to just 17 games in that span. If he can stay healthy for the Broncos, this is a clear-cut upgrade, but that’s a big if and honestly my only concern about the signing.
However, the franchise has done a great job over the past few seasons keeping their players healthy with Beau Lowery being Vice President of Player Health and Performance. That should help give Broncos Country a bit of optimism with reasonable concerns they have over his health. We’ll just have to wait and see.
In his four seasons with the 49ers, Hufanga appeared in 49 games with 37 starts. He racked up 219 tackles, 9 of them for loss, 7 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. When he is on the field, there is no doubt he is a unique chess piece capable of lining up in multiple spots across the secondary. History shows he has a knack for making big plays.
I like his fit in Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense. On top of that, the lower number of guarantees helps protect the Broncos in the event his injury concerns show up over the next few years. Overall, I don’t mind the addition. It helps address an area of weakness and should make Denver’s defense even better in ‘25.
Hart’s Grade: B
Addressing inside linebacker: my thoughts on signing Dre Greenlaw
On Sunday, a flurry of signings dried up the potential free agent pool at the inside linebacker. Instead of hitting the market, most of the well-known players decided to stick around with their current teams.
That left the Broncos in a bit of a precarious position considering they don’t have much depth at the position at all. However, later in the afternoon, they were able to strike a three-year deal with former 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Reports indicate it is a three-year deal worth up to $35 million dollars. The guaranteed money is yet to be announced, but the average annual value clocks in at less than $12 million per season.
A few years ago, Greenlaw was one of the better linebackers in the league, but a torn Achilles at the end of his ‘23 season lingered and he was shut down from action after just two regular season games in ‘24.
Like the Hufanga signing, the Broncos are hoping he can stay healthy and revert to the player he was several years ago notching back-to-back 100+ tackle campaigns. If he can do that, the Broncos’ defense could be even better this coming season.
Hart’s Grade: C+
Manning down the middle: my thoughts on re-signing D.J. Jones
Retaining nose tackle D.J. Jones was emphasized by General Manager George Paton during the 2025 NFL Combine. With hours to go before the beginning of the legal tampering period, the Broncos were able to come to term with the longtime veteran on a three-year extension worth $39 million dollars. That’s an average annual value of $13 million per year with $26 million in guarantees.
Jones was one of the better run stuffing defensive tackles in the NFL last season and was a key cog in Denver’s turnaround defensively. However, some think his extension is a little too much, especially considering he only played 40-percent of the defensive snaps in ‘24. Though I’d counter it seems fair considering the rise of the league’s salary cap which has gone up nearly 35-percent since he originally signed with the Broncos three seasons ago. Not to mention some of the big contracts we saw handed out today for defensive lineman who aren’t necessarily of Jones’ caliber.
By keeping Jones in the fold, the Broncos are set to return their top trio of defensive lineman with him alongside Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. They also have Malcom Roach who performed admirably in his role with the team last season. That continuity on the defensive front should bode well for the franchise heading into their 2025 campaign. Overall, I like this signing, but hope Denver brings in another player via this year’s draft.
Hart’s Grade: B+
Keeping the OL intact: my thoughts on re-signing Matt Peart
The second reported in-house signing for the Broncos was coming to a two-year extension worth $7 million dollars with backup/swing tackle Matt Peart. With incentives, the total value could reach $10 million.
This seems like a fair deal for Peart who appeared in every game for the Broncos last season. He was used as an extra offensive lineman in jumbo packages and also saw a good portion of special teams’ snaps. It’s hard to find any reason to gripe or complain about keeping Peart around. Continuity on the offensive line is critical.
Hart’s Grade: A
Broncos turn to tight end Evan Engram as a potential ‘joker’ in Sean Payton’s offense
While it’s not a done deal yet, the Broncos are currently hosting former Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram at Dove Valley.
He failed his physical with the Jaguars and saw action in just nine games last season due to suffering a torn labrum. It’s the main reason he is currently a street free agent. That means if they sign Engram, it will not count against the compensatory formula. The team is doing their due diligence relative to medicals and recovery.
Due to the injury, Engram’s production in ‘24 plummeted in comparison to ‘23 where he had over 100 receptions and nearly 1,000 yards receiving. However, his catch-rate over the past three seasons (average of 75-percent) has been one of the highest in the league. In my opinion, he would provide quarterback Bo Nix with a reliable safety valve that does a good job moving the chains.
Even if Engram is signed, I do believe the Broncos should still look for a long-term option in the draft if the opportunity presents itself.
Final thoughts on the Broncos’ start to free agency
First and foremost, keeping Jones and Peart were smart decisions. Hufanga has a lot of promise and potential as long as he remains healthy. Same goes for Greenlaw. Fans will just have to be patient and take a wait-and-see approach. But on paper, the team’s defensive roster already is better. On offense, Engram would be a fine addition, but as I mentioned above, they should still take a shot finding one in the draft if possible.
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