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Broncos Could Sign Sean Payton's Former Player

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Coby Leibowitz | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Everyone is wondering where Sam Darnold and Chris Godwin will go, but some free agents under the radar can make an impact as well. This class is not very top-heavy, but it has a lot of depth and a lot of quality NFL players that are going to make an impact next season.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com took the time to release his top ten underrated free agents that could make a big difference next year. In this article, he named tight end Juwan Johnson of the New Orleans Saints as the most underrated tight end, and he claims that he would fit perfectly in a "Joker" role for Sean Payton.

Sean Payton was Johnson's coach when he first came into the league and helped mold Johnson into the player he is today. Johnson could look to go back into a scheme that he knows and can be successful in if he is looking to take his game to the next level.

He is coming off a season where he had career highs in catches with 50 and yards with 548. He also added three touchdowns. Johnson has shared a locker room with Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman and could look to reunite with him as well.

Johnson is a 6'4 231 231-pound receiving threat that has great hands, can find the open space in the defense, and can make things happen after the catch. Johnson is the exact type of tight end that coach Payton is looking for, and he could be the big tight end target that can help take young quarterback Bo Nix's game to the next level.

Johnson is not the best blocker, but the Broncos are in the market for a receiving threat, and they may be able to find one that Sean Payton is already comfortable with. Johnson is 28 years old and still getting better. He has only had subpar quarterback play, and with a guy like Nix throwing him the ball, the sky is the limit.

Johnson is looking for a new home this offseason, but that does not mean he can not go back to some familiar faces. The Broncos should reach out to Johnson and see if he would be interested in a reunion with his former coach.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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