A few Broncos are looking for new deals in Denver.
Linebacker Alex Singleton and running back Latavius Murray told DNVR this week that they want to return for second seasons in Denver. Defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones tweeted that he too wants to be a Bronco. All three players are currently restricted free agents who will hit the open market on March 15.
Jones had previously liked tweets that were critical of the Broncos’ recent decision-making. One stated that trading draft picks for a head coach, as the Broncos did last week, was a bold move. Another tweet, this one from former Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, said that Russell Wilson’s catchphrase “Let’s Ride” was never cool.
Jones seemed to clear the air, but the odds of Jones sticking in Denver for a fifth season and beyond seem slim. He opened the 2022 season with 5.5 sacks in his first eight games, but he only had one in the second half of the season. He missed four of those games with an injury.
Given his varied production, it’s tough to pin down a market value. Spotrac projects Jones’ market value as about $21 million paid out over three seasons, but when ESPN listed their top 50 free agents available this offseason, they listed Jones at No. 16. If the NFL feels similarly, Jones could easily earn double what Spotrac projects.
The NFL’s pursuit of Jones probably won’t be a bidding war, as much as it is a question of who will value Jones the highest. A team with plenty of cap space, like the Chicago Bears, could be willing to gamble big money on Jones to return to his early-season form.
As for Murray and Singleton, retention should be much simpler.
Both players signed one-year deals worth slightly more than $1 million for the 2022 season. Both are probably in line for a raise, but neither will spark a widespread bidding war. Simply put, if the Broncos want either player back, nothing is standing in their way.
Murray, 33, joined the Broncos partway through the season after beginning the year on the Saints’ practice squad. He eventually took over as the starting back and averaged more than five yards per carry over the final five games of the season.
“I love the organization. I love the locker room,” Murray said on the DNVR Broncos Podcast. “I really hope I’m back. I honestly say that. Especially with a guy that I played under and I know what he stands for.”
Murray played under new Broncos head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans in 2019 and 2020. Murray texted Payton in December, saying that he’d be a great coach for the Broncos.
“We needed a coach and I knew a good one,” Murray said.
Clarity for Singleton is probably at least a few weeks away.
“That’s the first order of business, hiring a DC (defensive coordinator), and the players will be figured out from there,” Singleton told the “I’m excited to see what happens and see where it goes, but I’d love to be back in Denver.”
His partner in the middle of the defense, Josey Jewell wants him back too.
“Every day he bugs me like, ‘what’ve you heard?'” Singleton said.
Free agency is just over a month away, which means the clock is ticking for the Broncos to re-sign their free agents.
