Payton: Broncos’ Free-Agency Strategy Tied to Bo Nix’s Contract Clock

Over the first eight days of free agency, the Denver Broncos appeared to be asleep at the wheel, from the outside looking in. Then the Jaylen Waddle trade hit the news wire, and Broncos Country's angst was mostly assuaged.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton heard the noise, but they were unmoved. It was not unlike the "angst" directed at them after drafting Bo Nix in the first round back in 2024. They had a plan, and all would be known in due time.

“We tune out the angst," Payton said on Tuesday from the annual NFL owners meetings. "There was a lot of angst when we selected Bo where we selected him. There was a lot of angst when we made quite a few of these decisions. You have to tune that out."

Many in the media, Denver Broncos On SI/MHH included, wondered what the vision was during that eight-day seeming somnolence. After all, the Broncos came one Nix injury away from a Super Bowl berth, and the budding franchise quarterback won't be cheap forever, as he enters the third year of his rookie contract.

Again, Payton heard the anxious chatter. But the Broncos trusted the plan.

"I think in fairness, and I recognize that everyone would say, ‘Hey, you have Bo on his rookie deal.’ Well, no kidding, but just do the research," Payton said. "You go back in that first week of free agency and if you are batting .380 or .395, it’s about where the numbers lie. If you went back five years from now… Just go backwards and said, ‘Would they do it again?’"

Free-Agent Batting Average

The Broncos have had their free-agent hits and some misses. Last year, the Broncos swung on linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga, tight end Evan Engram, and wideout Trent Sherfield Sr. in the intial waves of free agency. Later in the summer, they also signed running back J.K. Dobbins.

Greenlaw didn't pan out, mostly due to injury. Engram finished third on the team in receiving in 2025, but it was a far cry from what fans expected from the two-time Pro Bowler and the Broncos' new "Joker" tight end. Sherfield, meanwhile, didn't finish the season before Denver moved on.

It would be fair to say that Denver hit on three of the five free-agent expenditures made last offseason. .600 is a batting average any MLB slugger would take without a second thought, but the going isn't always that good in free agency.

And there's an argument that Engram (failure to meet expectations) and Dobbins (missed nine games, counting playoffs) weren't "hits" in the strictest sense, so depending on one's definition, the 2025 class could be viewed as .200. I would call it .600, but still...

Patience Is a Virtue

There are other recent examples of the Broncos missing on free agents, like wide receiver Josh Reynolds in 2024, but for the most part, Payton and Paton have a good batting average. Still, the Broncos understand the numbers and probabilities in free agency, especially relative to the NFL average.

"The point is, though, you have to apply some patience and have a good plan. We recognize where we are at. We understand exactly where we are at with Bo’s contract, our team," Payton said. "And yet, the mistake that two-thirds of the teams make is trying to win the day. Win the draft day, win the hiring cycle day, and win the free agency day."

Obviously, the Broncos are most focused on winning on Sundays in the fall, instead of trying to garner press clippings and high media grades for free-agent and draft acquisitions. That can sometimes rob fans of some of the few joys on the offseason calendar, but it's a short-term sacrifice that the Broncos hope to continue repaying tenfold in the regular season.

"We are interested in winning," Payton said. "That’s why our fanbase is extremely important to us, but we are going to do what we think is best for our team to be better when this puzzle is finished at the end of call it June. Then what do we look like at that point?"

Making the Moves They Wanted To

Dec 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) reacts after making a catch for a touchdown against the New York Jets during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The good news is, the Broncos did make some outside acquisitions, trading for Waddle and signing safety Tycen Anderson. They also prioritized the re-signing of 17 of their own free agents, with a major priority being placed on Dobbins, linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, and tight end Adam Trautman, among others.

Moving forward, the Broncos are sitting on a little more than $18 million in salary-cap space, and they have seven draft picks in their war chest for later this month. After the draft, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Broncos sign one or two free agents with some of that cap space because it won't offeset (or cancel out) the compensatory picks they expect to receive in 2027 for the departure of defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and safety P.J. Locke.

Broncos Are Far From Done

So, there's plenty of action to come. The Broncos don't have a first or a third-round pick, which means their second-rounder will become the focal point of all the draft scrutiny and speculation between now and then.

It's reminiscent of the 2022 and 2023 drafts, when the Broncos lacked a first-rounder. But they landed All-Pro rush linebacker Nik Bonitto in 2022 (64th overall) and All-Pro wideout/returner Marvin Mims Jr. in 2023 (63rd).

The Broncos' first pick this year is No. 62 overall. Considering how they fared with Bonitto and Mims, as well as running back RJ Harvey last year at No. 60 overall, Broncos Country should feel pretty good about the team's chances at No. 62.

The Takeaway

Payton made it clear that he and the Broncos' leadership need no reminders that the clock is ticking on the team's cost-control of Nix. But hopefully, Payton's remarks helped reassure those skeptics remaining in the fan base that the Broncos have a plan and they're sticking to it come hell or high water.

Sign up for our free Denver Broncos On SI newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!