Broncos Free Agency Tracker: Denver's free agency enters another phase

The Denver Broncos hit the ground running on the first day free agency began on Monday, Mar. 13.

By the end of the first day, Sean Payton and George Paton had given out nearly $175 million in contracts along with over $95 million in guarantees. After the first week, the Broncos had dished out over $230 million in new contracts.

While the big-time spending is likely in the rearview mirror, the Broncos still need to round out the rest of their roster in the next phase of free agency.

Here’s the latest with the Broncos’ free agency and where the team stands.

You can find the Broncos’ initial moves of free agency here and the moves the team made before free agency began here.

Most recent updates

Sunday, Mar. 26

• Sean Payton told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that teams have called the Broncos about potentially trading for Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, but made it clear the team is not planning on trading either of them. “We’re not trading those two players,” Payton said. Mike Klis followed up that report by adding, “Source said today at owners meetings Broncos wouldn’t deal unless 2nd-rd for Sutton or 1st for Jeudy.”
• Marquez Callaway received a one-year, $1.135 million contract from Denver.

Saturday, Mar. 25

• The Broncos signed offensive lineman Kyle Fuller, not to be confused with the cornerback Kyle Fuller, who was a Bronco in 2021. Fuller provides interior offensive line depth and has familiarity with Russell Wilson. In 2020 and 2021, Fuller played 23 games including 10 starts protecting Wilson in Seattle. Fuller was a seventh-round pick in 2017 out of Baylor.

Friday, Mar. 24

• The Broncos signed receiver Marquez Callaway to a one-year contract. Callaway was the New Orleans Saints’ leading receiver under Sean Payton in 2021 and reunites with his former coach in Denver. In 2021 with Payton, Callaway had 698 receiving yards on 46 catches and six touchdowns. Callaway was the Saints leading receiver that year.

Thursday, Mar. 23

• The Broncos signed running back Tony Jones Jr. to a one-year deal. Jones signed with the New Orleans Saints and Sean Payton as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2020. The 5-foot-11, 224-pound running back played under Payton in a combined 12 games in 2020 and 2021. He adds depth to the Broncos’ running back room.
• Riley Dixon received a two-year contract worth $3.5 million with a $600,000 signing bonus. Dixon’s $1.75 million average annual value makes him the 16th highest-paid punter in the NFL.

Wednesday, Mar. 22

• The Browns acquired receiver Elijah Moore from the New York Jets. This trade could have two implications on the Broncos. First, it could help mold the trade market for one of the Broncos’ receiver. The Jets traded Moore and their third-round pick to the Browns in exchange for Cleveland’s second-round pick. Additionally, the Browns had reportedly been interested in trading for Jerry Jeudy. By acquiring Moore, it would appear they aren’t as desperate to trade for the former first-round pick.

Tuesday, Mar. 21

• The Browns “continue to pursue” a possible trade for Jerry Jeudy, according to Benjamin Allbright. The Broncos are seeking a first-round pick in return for Jeudy, however, the Browns don’t have a first-round pick in 2023 or 2024.
• Denver withdrew their exclusive rights free agent tender on Corliss Waitman, essentially making him a free agent. The move comes on the heels of the Broncos signing punter Riley Dixon to a two-year contract earlier in the day.
• The Broncos have signed punter Riley Dixon to a two-year contract. Dixon began his career in Denver when the team drafted him in the seventh round in 2016. He spent the first two years as the Broncos’ punter, before being traded to the New York Giants for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2018 after the team signed Marquette King. He spent four years in New York before signing with the Los Angeles Rams last year. Dixon is faced to square off against Corliss Waitman in a competition to become the Broncos’ starting punter.

Monday, Mar. 20

• Denver waived cornerback Lamar Jackson. Jackson joined the team in late November last season and played in three games. He recorded three tackles and two passes defended. The Broncos also waived outside linebacker Wyatt Ray, who also played in three games for Denver as well.
• Adam Thielen revealed on The Pat McAfee Show that he had conversations with the Broncos about potentially signing with them in free agency before he ultimately chose to go with the Panthers. It’s unknown how far talks progressed with Thielen and the Broncos, but this is another receiver that Denver has been reportedly interested in free agency. Last week, Denver was close to landing Allen Lazard before he signed with the New York Jets. All of this news come with trade rumors swirling around Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton.
• The Dallas Cowboys had explored trading for Jerry Jeudy over the past year, according to Dallasnews.com. However, Dallas didn’t want to meet Denver’s demand for a first-round pick in return for the receiver.

Saturday, Mar. 18

• The Broncos re-signed cornerback Essang Bassey to a one-year deal. Bassey signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest in 2020 and has appeared in 27 games with the team since. As the team’s backup nickel corner and special teams contributor, Bassey totaled two passes defended and 15 tackles last season.

Signed free agents

• OL Kyle Fuller
• WR Marquez Callaway — One-year, $1.135 million contract
• RB Tony Jones Jr. — One-year deal
• P Riley Dixon — Two-year, $3.5 million deal
• CB/returner Tremon Smith — Two-year deal with a maximum value of $5.5 million
• FB Mike Burton — One-year, $1.3175 million contract with $1.066 million guaranteed
• RB Samaje Perine — Two-year, $7.5 million contract with an additional $1 million in incentives
• DL Zach Allen — Three-year, $45.75 million contract with $32.5 million guaranteed
• TE Chris Manhertz — Two-year, $6 million contract with $3.34 million guaranteed
• RT Mike McGlinchey — Five-year, $87.5 million deal with $50 million guaranteed
• QB Jarrett Stidham — Two-year, $10 million deal with $5 million guaranteed
• OG Ben Powers — Four-year, $52 million deal with $28.5 million guaranteed
• WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey

Denver’s own free agents

Re-signed

• CB Essang Bassey — One-year deal
• S P.J. Locke
• ILB Alex Singleton — Three-year, $18 million contract with $9 million guaranteed

Signed by a different team

• DE DeShawn Williams (Panthers)
• OL Graham Glasgow (Lions)
• TE Eric Saubert (Dolphins)
• OT Calvin Anderson (Patriots)
• DL Dre’Mont Jones (Seahawks)
• RB Mike Boone (Texans)
• FB/TE Andrew Beck (Texans)

Unsigned

• OG Dalton Risner
• S Kareem Jackson
• RB Latavius Murray
• OT Billy Turner
• OT Tom Compton
• TE Eric Tomlinson
• OT Cameron Fleming
• CB Darius Phillips
• RB Marlon Mack
• LB Dakota Allen

Restricted free agents

Tendered

• Team did not tender any of their restricted free agents.

Not tendered

• QB Brett Rypien
• S P.J. Locke — Did not tender, but did re-sign
• CB Essang Bassey — Did not tender, but did re-sign
• LS Jacob Bobenmoyer

Exclusive rights free agents

Tendered

• ILB Jonas Griffith
• OL Quinn Bailey

Not tendered

• OLB Jonathan Kongbo
• P Corliss Waitman — The team initially tendered Waitman, but they withdrew their tender after signing Riley Dixon.