Broncos Free Agency Tracker: Sean Payton's second free agency in Denver kicks off

Open the checkbooks, NFL free agency is here.

On Monday Mar. 11 at 10 a.m. MT, the NFL’s legal tampering period opens, meaning teams can agree to contracts with free agents. On Wednesday, Mar. 13 at 2 p.m. MT, free agents can actually sign those contracts and officially join teams as the new league year begins.

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

You can find the moves the team made before free agency began here.

Most recent updates

Friday, Mar. 15

• The Broncos signed ILB Cody Barton to a one-year deal worth a maximum of $4 million.
  • Barton will likely take Josey Jewell’s place in the middle of the defense next to Alex Singleton after Jewell signed with the Carolina Panthers.
  • The 6-foot-2, 237-pound linebacker played and started in 13 games for the Washington Commanders last season and racked up 121 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, one fumble recovery and one interception.
  • Barton was a third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 out of Utah.
• Adam Trautman’s two-year deal with the Broncos is for $7.5 million with $5 million guaranteed. The tight end will have a $3 million cap hit in 2024 and $4.5 million cap hit in 2025.

Thursday, Mar. 14

• The Broncos have officially signed S Brandon Jones to a three-year contract and DT Malcolm Roach to a two-year contract.

Wednesday, Mar. 13

• The Broncos officially released Russell Wilson with a post-June 1 designation. Denver decided to take the bulk of Wilson’s $85 million dead cap this year. In doing so, the Broncos will have $53 million in dead cap from Wilson’s deal in 2024 and $32 million in dead cap from his contract in 2025.
  • Even with Wilson’s $53 million dead cap in 2024, the Broncos still have over $20 million in cap space.
• Officially traded Jerry Jeudy to the Browns in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick.
  • The fifth-round pick Denver received is the first pick in the fifth round.
  • The trade is equivalent to the Broncos receiving a fourth-round pick for Jeudy.
  • Denver also saves nearly $13 million in cap space by trading Jeudy.
• The Broncos have re-signed WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey to a one-year, veteran minimum $1.125 million non-guaranteed deal.
  • The 6-foot-4, 225-pound receiver played in all 17 games for the Broncos last year, including eight starts. His three receiving touchdowns were tied for the third-most on the team.
• Malcom Roach’s two-year deal has a maximum value of $8 million, including $3 million guaranteed and $2.5 million signing bonus.

Tuesday, Mar. 12

• Adam Trautman signed a two-year deal to remain with the Broncos, a source confirmed to DNVR.
  • Denver acquired Trautman during the 2023 NFL Draft in a trade with the Saints in which Denver sent a sixth-round pick to New Orleans for the tight end and a seventh-round pick.
  • In his first year in Denver, and third season under Sean Payton, the versatile tight end played in all 17 games, including 12 starts, had 22 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
• Josey Jewell signed a three-year, $22.75 million deal with the Carolina Panthers that includes a $7 million signing bonus and $10 million fully guaranteed. That marks the end of Jewell’s six years with the Broncos.
  • The Broncos selected Jewell in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He became a full-time starter in 2020 and signed a two-year, $11 million extension with the Broncos in 2022.
  • During his six year career in Denver, Jewell played in 78 games (58 starts), racked up 453 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, nine sacks, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
• The Broncos agreed to terms with defensive lineman Malcolm Roach, a source confirmed to DNVR.
  • Roach and Denver agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $8 million.
  • The 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle was one of the best run stoppers in the NFL last season. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Malcolm had the best run-stop percent among interior defensive lineman in the entire league. George Paton admitted after the season that Denver needed to improve against the run and this move will help them do just that.
  • Malcolm spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, two of those with Sean Payton. He was undrafted out of the University of Texas in 2020.
  • In his four-year career, Malcolm played in 41 games (five starts), recorded 90 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits and one sack.
• The Broncos re-signed FB Michael Burton to a one-year deal, a source confirmed to DNVR. Burton was a key contributor in Sean Payton’s offense and on special teams in 2023.
• Wil Lutz’ two-year deal with Denver is worth $8.4 million.
• The Broncos restructured the contracts of Zach Allen and Ben Powers to create nearly $20 million in cap space.
  • According to OverTheCap, Denver has over $46 million in cap space.

Monday, Mar. 11

• Sam Darnold was weighing offers between the Vikings and Broncos before eventually signing with Minnesota on a one-year, $10 million contract.
  • Mike Klis later refuted the report, saying the Broncos had interest in Darnold, but did not make an offer.
• After agreeing to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday morning, Wil Lutz changed his mind and decided to sign a two-year deal with the Broncos, a source confirmed to DNVR.
  • The Broncos had been in communication with Lutz for days leading up to free agency and were able to lock him in on Monday afternoon.
  • Denver traded a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Saints for Lutz in August to reunite Sean Payton with his kicker.
  • On the season, Lutz went 30-for-34 on field goals and 29-for-31 on extra points.
• The Broncos signed safety Brandon Jones to a three-year, $20 million contract with incentives up to $22.5 million. The deal includes $12.5 million guaranteed.
  • Jones was a third-round pick out of Texas in 2020. He’s played in 54 games with 30 starts.
  • Last year with the Dolphins, Jones had two interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and two tackles for a loss.
  • Jones was the 16th-best safety in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
• Lloyd Cushenberry agreed to a deal with the Tennessee Titans.
  • Cushenberry landed a massive four-year, $50 million contract from Tennessee with $26 million fully guaranteed at signing.
  • Denver is expected to replace their starting center from the depth on their roster with either Alex Forsyth or Luke Wattenberg.

Signed free agents

• DL Malcolm Roach
  • Two years, up to $8 million with $3 million guaranteed and a $2.5 million signing bonus
• S Brandon Jones
  • Three years, $20 million with an additional $2.5 million in incentives and $12.5 million guaranteed
• ILB Cody Barton
  • One year, with a maximum value of $4 million

Traded

• Jerry Jeudy to the Browns for a 2024 fifth and sixth-round pick.

Released

• QB Russell Wilson
• S Justin Simmons
• TE Chris Manhertz

Altered contracts

• WR Tim Patrick
  • Freed up over $8 million in cap space
• OT Mike McGlinchey
  • Restructured contract to open up nearly $11 million in cap space
• DL Zach Allen
  • Restructured deal to open up cap space for the team
• OG Ben Powers
  • Restructured deal to open up cap space for the team

Team’s own unrestricted free agents

Re-signed

• S P.J. Locke
  • Two-year, $7 million contract
• OT Quinn Bailey
  • One-year, $1.055 million contract
• K Wil Lutz
  • Two-year, $8.4 million contract
• FB Michael Burton
  • One-year contract
• TE Adam Trautman
  • Two-year, $7.5 million contract
• WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  • One-year, $1.125 million contract

Signed by a different team

• QB Russell Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• C Lloyd Cushenberry signed with the Tennessee Titans.
• ILB Josey Jewell signed with the Carolina Panthers.
• DL Jonathan Harris signed with the Miami Dolphins.
• TE Chris Manhertz signed with the New York Giants.

Unsigned

• DT Mike Purcell
• CB K’Waun Williams
• OT Cameron Fleming
• ILB Justin Strnad
• CB Fabian Moreau
• RB Dwayne Washington
• ILB Ben Niemann

Restricted free agents

Tendered

• No activity yet.

Not tendered

• OT Quinn Bailey — Signed one-year deal instead.

Won’t be tendered

• Jonathan Harris

Exclusive rights free agents

• Michael Bandy signed a one-year deal with team.