Broncos' 2022 Free Agency Tracker: Melvin Gordon is back

Less than a week before NFL Free Agency began, George Paton made one of the biggest moves in the history of the Denver Broncos by acquiring Russell Wilson in a blockbuster trade.

Not only did Paton solidify the Broncos’ quarterback position for years to come, he also made Denver a significantly more appealing destination for free agents.

With plenty of cap space to work with, Paton will attempt to recruit free agents to Denver beginning on Monday, Mar. 13 at 10:00 AM MDT when the legal tampering window begins.

Here’s the latest on who the Broncos have signed as they build a team around their new Pro Bowl quarterback.

Most recent updates

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

• Melvin Gordon has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. Gordon has spent the past two seasons with the Broncos. He will team up with Javonte Williams for a second year in Denver’s backfield.
• The Broncos are close to re-signing Melvin Gordon to a one-year deal. If and when official, Gordon would reunite with Javonte Williams and the Broncos. Gordon spent the past two seasons in Denver, where he rushed for 1,904 yards and 20 total touchdowns.

Thursday, April 7, 2022

• Denver re-signed Kareem Jackson to a one-year deal. The hard-hitting safety can earn up to $5 million with incentives in 2022. For a fourth-straight season, Jackson will pair up with Justin Simmons as one of the league’s best safety duos.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

• The Broncos signed Billy Turner to a one-year, $5 million deal. The versatile offensive lineman was a Bronco from 2016 to 2018 before signing with the Packers. He reunites with Nathaniel Hackett in Denver and is expected to compete for the starting right tackle job. In his three years in Green Bay, Turner started 43 games.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

• Denver signed cornerback K’Waun Williams to a two-year, $5.2 million deal. Williams will be 31 when the season starts and figures to be the Broncos’ slot cornerback on the inside. He started eight games in 2021 for the 49ers and played in 14.

Monday, March 21, 2022

• RT Brandon Shell will visit Denver on Tuesday. Shell has been a starting right tackle for the majority of the past five seasons, including protecting Wilson in Seattle the past two.
• The Broncos signed safety J.R. Reed. The third-year safety spent the past two seasons with the Rams under Denver’s new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Reed has played in 16 games and adds depth at safety and special teams.

Friday, March 18, 2022

• Denver signed ILB Alex Singleton to a one-year deal. Singleton led the Eagles in tackles the past two years and was a special teams captain in 2021.
• The Broncos have signed QB Josh Johnson. The veteran quarterback has been in the NFL since 2008 and has nine career starts and appeared in 37 games. Presumably, he will be Denver’s backup quarterback behind Russell Wilson.
• Officially signed Randy Gregory to his five-year, $70-million contract.
• Broncos re-signed DeShawn Williams to a one-year deal.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

• The Broncos are planning to sign offensive lineman Tom Compton to a one-year deal. The veteran offensive lineman has stated 44 games over his career, including seven starts with the 49ers last year. He will provide depth and versatility to Denver’s line.
• Denver did not tender DeShawn Williams, making him a free agent.
• The Broncos placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Malik Reed. The 25-year-old pass rusher will be able to explore free agency and sign a contract with another team. If he does, however, the Broncos will have the opportunity to match that deal and bring him back. If Denver decides not to match that deal, the team will receive nothing in return. If Reed does not receive a deal from a different team, he will return to the Broncos on a one-year, $2.4 million contract.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

• The team agreed to terms on a one-year deal with tight end Eric Tomlinson. At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, Tomlinson is primarily a blocking tight end who will compliment Albert Okwuegbunam. He started seven games for the Ravens last year and had one catch. He went undrafted in 2015 and has racked up 41 starts in his career and 18 career catches.
• Denver re-signed Josey Jewell to a two-year, $11 million deal. The Broncos had prioritized Jewell entering free agency and bring him back.
• The Broncos have signed Randy Gregory to a five-year, $70 million deal with $28 million guarantee. The deal came shortly after the Cowboys announced they had signed the talented pass rusher, but that deal fell apart and Denver quickly swooped in.

Monday, March 14, 2022

• Georg Paton made his first big-time move of free agency big signing defensive lineman D.J. Jones to a three-year, $30 million deal. Jones started all 42 games he played in for the 49ers the past three seasons after being a sixth-round pick by the team in 2017. The 305-pound defensive lineman was excellent against the run last season, in which he started all 17 games in San Francisco. Jones’ contract includes $20 million in guarantees.
• Teddy Bridgewater signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, ending his tenure in Denver.
• The Broncos signed offensive guard Ben Braden to a one-year deal. Braden has been a career backup offensive lineman the past four years, spending the past two years with Nathaniel Hackett in Green Bay. The former undrafted guard out of Michigan in 2017 has played in 16 NFL games with zero starts. He’ll provide depth on the Broncos’ offensive line.

Sunday, March 13, 2022

• The team officially tendered exclusive right free agents Jonas Griffith, Brett Rypien and P.J. Locke. The ERFA tender is typical a one-year minimum-salary deal.
• The Broncos signed Calvin Anderson to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Anderson has started five games for Denver at tackle in the past two seasons. If the Broncos make a splash offensive tackle signing in free agency, Anderson will be a quality swing backup tackle. However, if the Broncos don’t add a tackle in free agency, Anderson will have an opportunity to compete for the starting right tackle spot.
• Denver will not tender Diontae Spencer, Austin Schlottmann or Adrian Killins thus making them all unrestricted free agents.
• The team signed Andrew Beck to a one-year contract. The versatile full back/tight end was a restricted free agent and instead of tendering him, the two sides reached a contract extension. Beck is expected to have a significantly bigger role in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense compared to Pat Shurmur’s.

Signings

External Signings

• RB Melvin Gordon, one-year, up to $5 million
• OT Billy Turner, one-year, $5-million deal
• CB K’Waun Williams, two years, $5.2-million deal
• S J.R. Reed
• ILB Alex Singleton
• QB Josh Johnson
• OL Tom Compton, one-year deal
• TE Eric Tomlinson, one-year deal
• OLB Randy Gregory, five-year, $70-million deal with $28 million guaranteed
• DL D.J. Jones, three-year, $30-million deal with $20 million guaranteed
• OG Ben Braden, one-year deal

Internal Signings

• Kareem Jackson, one-year deal, up to $5 million in incentives
• DL DeShawn Williams, one-year deal
• ILB Josey Jewell, two-year, $11-million deal with $6 million guaranteed
• FB/TE Andrew Beck, one-year deal
• OT Calvin Anderson, one-year, $2.5 million deal

Restricted Free Agent Signings

• Tendered ERFA Jonas Griffith
• Tendered ERFA Brett Rypien
• Tendered ERFA P.J. Locke