Broncos have three free agents on ESPN’s top-100 list, but not very high
Mar 4, 2025, 3:22 PM
The Denver Broncos didn’t franchise tag any player on their roster as the Tuesday deadline came and went.
That was no surprise, as the Broncos don’t have anyone hitting free agency next week that would be a huge loss. Yes, there’s a couple of guys they probably want to retain like D.J. Jones and Cody Barton, but fortunately almost all their key players are already under contract for 2025.
That’s what made the list ESPN released on Tuesday afternoon fairly interesting. After having no free agents in the top-50 list published in January, the Broncos have three in the top-100 according to Matt Bowen.
The catch? None of them are very high, including two guys securing the 99th and 100th spots on the list.
Overall, Bowen has Jones at No. 72, Javonte Williams at No. 99 and Barton at No. 100.
Jones, who had 42 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery is considered a “space-eater” in the middle of Denver’s defensive line. The Broncos could make him their No. 1 priority of in-house guys to keep, given he’s played the last three seasons with the team and is respected in the locker room.
GM George Paton hasn’t closed the door on a Williams return, but the fans are ready for something new at running back. Williams averaged just 3.2 yards per carry last season, and hasn’t looked the same since shredding his knee against the Raiders in the fall of 2022.
Barton was second on the Broncos in tackles with 106 and had two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, so he might be back at the right price. But concerns about the Denver rush defense, not only in the month of December but in the playoffs agains the Bills, could make Barton expendable.
Regardless, don’t expect Denver to make any of these three guys a huge priority, outside of perhaps Jones.
To see the full list on ESPN from Bowen, including guys the Broncos could pursue from other teams beginning next Monday, click here.
