Broncos’ Star in Search of New Contract Tipped To Be Traded

There were contributors all across the unit, starting with Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain, but one of the linchpins of the defensive line was John Franklin-Myers. The former fourth-round pick was traded to the Broncos in the offseason and immediately stepped up in his first year with the team. Franklin-Myers has been vocal about wanting a new extension with the Broncos this offseason, but now he is being tipped as a potential trade candidate ahead of the 2025 season.

Per Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, Franklin-Myers should be put on the trade block this preseason, as the Broncos are already committed to several high-earning defensive players, with other contracts potentially around the corner. 

“The reality, though, is that Denver can't pay everyone, and the 2018 fourth-rounder has only been with the franchise for one season,” Knox writes. “He'll turn 29 in September and should have quite a few good years ahead of him, but the Broncos may not consider him an integral long-term building block.”

Franklin-Myers has been a solid contributor wherever he’s suited up, and his seven sacks and eight tackles for loss were a career high in 2024. After signing a two-year extension with the Broncos last offseason, Franklin-Myers is set to be a free agent after the 2025 season, but Knox believes the Broncos should dangle the carrot and see what offers could roll in.

“With rookie Sai'vion Jones looming as a potential replacement, Denver should see what it can get for Franklin-Myers.” Knox added, “...Presumably, Franklin-Myers would bring a respectable return after logging 40 tackles and seven sacks in 2024. There should be multiple teams willing to acquire and extend him. For Denver, trading him would save $8 million in cap space.”

The Broncos have signed Zach Allen and Courtland Sutton to long-term deals this offseason, and an extension with edge rusher Nik Bonitto could be right around the corner. Paying Franklin-Myers is something that’s potentially off the table due to cap constraints, so it could make sense for the Broncos to trade him instead of letting him walk next year.