Broncos must avoid these 5 free agents at major positions of need originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the 2026 NFL league year fast approaching, free agency will soon be in full swing across the league.
Fans and analysts love to discuss the players that their teams should pursue on the open market, but what about the ones that they should stay away from? Looking at the roster of the Denver Broncos, the team could go in many different directions this offseason, but the general consensus is that the team should address the offensive side of the ball.
In addition to needing to upgrade the running back, wide receiver and tight end positions, the Broncos may have to address inside linebacker and defensive line, depending on what happens with their own free agents.
Here, you can get a good idea of some great replacement options should the Broncos lose some of these players to other teams. And now, for a list of players they should shy away from in free agency.
Free agents Broncos should avoid
Najee Harris, RB
There are multiple options at running back in free agency for the Broncos. Even if the team loses out on its No. 1 or No. 2 choice, there are still good options. Najee Harris is not one of those.
Harris appears to be on the downside of his career and after tearing his ACL early on in 2025 after signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, he will have a hard time earning his way back into a prominent role at this stage in his career.
Tyreek Hill, WR
Tyreek Hill is another player coming off a torn ACL who the Broncos should steer clear of. Hill will soon turn 32 years old and though he has the talent to still make an on-field impact, his off-field antics are something the team should avoid entertaining.
In addition to being aging and prone to issues, he'll also demand a big-money deal.
David Njoku, TE
The Broncos could use another tight end with Adam Trautman hitting free agency and an upgrade over him should be considered. However, the team just gave big money to Evan Engram last year and David Njoku doesn't make a lot of sense unless the team moves on from Engram.
A better option might be to just re-sign Trautman for his abilities as a blocker and find a future prospect in the draft.
Devin Lloyd, LB
Perhaps the most interesting position for the Broncos this offseason is at inside linebacker, where both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are scheduled to become free agents. There is also the matter of whether or not to cut Dre Greenlaw, as the team could save $8.1 million against the salary cap by cutting him after June 1.
Regardless of how things go with those players, there are some good options for the team to consider. Devin Lloyd, despite having a career year in Jacksonville, is not one of those.
Lloyd stands to get one of the biggest contracts of this entire free-agent cycle, with Spotrac estimating a deal to be worth $20.1 million annually. That is just too much. The Broncos could sign a player like Kaden Elliss, Alex Anzalone, Quincy Williams, or Matt Milano for less than half that.
Calais Campbell, DL
There are multiple offseasons in which the Broncos should have signed Calais Campbell. This is not one of those.
MORE:Broncos could snag second-best running back in class with first-round pick
The Broncos will likely lose John Franklin-Myers to free agency and not only is Campbell one of the oldest names that will be available at 39, but he is also projected to be one of the more costly, according to Spotrac. The Broncos may have to get creative to replace Franklin-Myers, but spending big on a player well past his prime should be a last resort.
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