The Denver Broncos face a dilemma that many teams would envy—an abundance of defensive talent but limited financial flexibility.
With edge rusher Nik Bonitto emerging as one of the NFL’s top defensive players and soon commanding a significant payday, the Broncos may not be able to retain everyone. According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, they should consider replacing defensive end John Franklin-Myers in the 2025 NFL Draft, given Bonitto’s looming contract extension.
Franklin-Myers is in the final year of the four-year, $55 million extension he originally signed with the New York Jets in 2021, which the Broncos restructured into a two-year, $15 million deal in April 2024.
“Courtland Sutton is coming off his best season, but he’s also approaching 30,” Ballentine noted. “Bonitto, (Zach) Allen, and Franklin-Myers are key pieces of the defensive front, but keeping all three could be costly. Franklin-Myers seems like the odd man out.
Bonitto provides a legitimate edge threat, and Allen has been both more productive and versatile. While Franklin-Myers brings a unique skill set, the Broncos might find a comparable replacement in a draft prospect like Jared Ivey.”
Broncos Surprised With One of NFL’s Elite Defenses in 2024
Entering 2024, the Broncos’ defensive front was widely regarded as one of the weakest in the NFL, but by season’s end, they had transformed into one of the league’s most dominant units, helping Denver reach the postseason for the first time since 2015.
The Broncos led the NFL with 63.0 sacks, and cornerback Patrick Surtain II earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.
John Franklin-Myers played a key role in the team’s pass rush, ranking fourth on the roster with 7.0 sacks and becoming one of six Broncos defenders to record at least 5.0 sacks.
A fourth-round pick (No. 135 overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Stephen F. Austin, Franklin-Myers played in the Super Bowl as a rookie but was released before the following season. The New York Jets claimed him, and he spent the next five seasons in New York before being traded to Denver for a 2026 sixth-round pick in April 2024.
Through his first seven NFL seasons, Franklin-Myers has recorded 26.5 career sacks, despite missing the entire 2019 season due to injury. By the end of the 2025 season, his career earnings will total approximately $44.2 million.
Defense Won’t Be Priority in NFL Draft
With several pressing needs on offense—particularly at running back and wide receiver—the Broncos may opt to focus on that side of the ball in the upcoming NFL Draft rather than bolstering their already formidable defense.
It’s entirely possible that Denver could field the league’s top defensive unit in 2025, anchored by Patrick Surtain II and Nik Bonitto, along with key free-agent acquisitions like safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
The Broncos invested heavily in Surtain, signing him to a four-year, $96.1 million extension before the 2024 season, and they are expected to do the same for Bonitto soon. Spotrac projects his next contract to be a four-year, $102 million extension.
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