The 2026 season is the Denver Broncos' 57th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 67th overall. It is also the team's sixth under the leadership of general manager George Paton, the fifth under the ownership of the Walton-Penner family group and the fourth under head coach Sean Payton. They will attempt to match or improve on their 14–3 record from 2025, make the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and win the AFC West for the second consecutive season.
Coaching changes + 2025 Denver Broncos coaching staff changes Position Previous coach Reason Replacement(s) Source(s)Assistant strength and conditioning coachKorey Jones,2020–2025Contract expiredZaviar Gooden Cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch,2025 Fired Doug Belk (as defensive backs coach) Defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard,2024–2025 Hired by the Buffalo Bills Robert Livingston Front seven coachNone–Michael WilhoiteOffensive consultantJohn Morton,2025Promoted to pass game coordinatorNone Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi,2023–2025 Fired Davis Webb Offensive line coachNone–Chris MorganOffensive pass game coordinator & quarterbacks coachDavis Webb,2023–2025Promoted to offensive coordinator John Morton (as offensive pass game coordinator)Logan Kilgore (as quarterbacks coach)Offensive quality control coachLogan Kilgore,2023–2025Promoted to quarterbacks coachJD JohnsonKyle KemptWillie Snead IVFavian Upshaw,2023–2025Hired by the Miami HurricanesPassing game specialistZack Grossi,2024–2025Hired by the Baltimore RavensNone Senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael Jr.,2024–2025 Hired by the Buffalo BillsNone Wide receivers coach Keary Colbert,2023–2025 Fired Ronald Curry
Roster changes Future contracts All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 11—the first day of the 2026 league year. PositionPlayerDate signedSource(s) ILB Levelle Bailey January 26 TE Caleb Lohner NT Jordan Miller RB Cody Schrader G Calvin Throckmorton RB Deuce Vaughn OLB Garrett Nelson January 27 T Marques Cox January 29 C Michael Deiter G Nash Jones DT Kristian Williams CB Jaden RobinsonJanuary 30
Free agents Position Player Tag Team signed with Date signed Notes Source(s) TE Nate Adkins RFA Denver Broncos March 10 1 year, $1.555 million RB Tyler Badie ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million FB Michael Burton UFA Cleveland Browns April 28 1 year, $1.4 million RB J. K. Dobbins UFA Denver Broncos March 10 2 years, $16 million QB Sam Ehlinger UFA Denver BroncosMarch 11 1 year, $2 million DE John Franklin-Myers UFA Tennessee Titans March 12 3 years, $63 million DE Matt Henningsen UFA Denver Broncos March 11 originally an RFA1 year, $1.145 million WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey UFA Denver Broncos March 12 1 year, $1.215 million DE Jordan Jackson ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million S Devon Key ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million TE Lucas Krull UFA Denver Broncos March 11 originally an RFA1 year, $1.33 million S P. J. Locke UFA Dallas Cowboys March 10 1 year, $5 million RB Jaleel McLaughlin UFA Denver Broncos March 13 originally an RFA1 year, $1.145 million CB Ja'Quan McMillian RFA Denver Broncos February 27 1 year, $5.8 million C Sam Mustipher UFA Jacksonville Jaguars August 5 1 year, $1.215 million G Alex Palczewski RFA Denver Broncos March 5 2 years, $9.5 million FB Adam Prentice UFA Denver Broncos March 12 1 year, $1.215 million ILB Alex Singleton UFA Denver Broncos March 10 2 years, $15.5 million ILB Justin Strnad UFA Denver Broncos March 10 3 years, $18 million OLB Dondrea Tillman ERFA Denver Broncos March 6 1 year, $1.075 million TE Adam Trautman UFA Denver Broncos March 9 3 years, $17 million
Signings Position Player Previous team Date signed Notes Source(s) WR Michael Bandy Denver Broncos February 19 1 year, $1.085 million STycen AndersonCincinnati BengalsMarch 191 year, $1.5 millionWRMichael Woods IIGreen Bay PackersMay 121 year, $1.075 millionWRHakeem ButlerSt. Louis Battlehawks (UFL)June 161 year, $1.005 millionCBSean FreschSt. Louis Battlehawks (UFL)June 161 year, $0.885 millionTReid HolskeyNew York GiantsJune 181 year, $0.885 millionCBSam WebbCleveland BrownsJuly 311 year, $1.215 millionWRKyre DuplessisSeattle SeahawksAugust 71 year, $0.885 millionWRKyrese RowanHamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)August 81 year, $0.885 millionCLecitus SmithGreen Bay PackersAugust 131 year, $1.145 millionSTaylor RappBuffalo BillsAugust 201 year, $1.3 millionOLBRon Stone Jr.Columbus Aviators (UFL)August 251 year, $0.885 millionDTIsrael AntwineHouston Gamblers (UFL)August 261 year, $0.885 millionTFoster SarellWashington CommandersAugust 261 year, $1.215 millionOLBDavid AgohaTennessee TitansAugust 31Practice squadCBBrent AustinDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadWRMichael BandyDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadLSLuke BassoDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadLSMitchell FraboniDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadWRKolbe KatsisDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadWRDane KeyDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadTELucas KrullDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadTTyler MillerDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadILBRed MurdockDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadGGavin OrtegaDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadFBAdam PrenticeDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadSMiles ScottDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadGCalvin ThrockmortonDenver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadOLBJohnny Walker Jr.Denver BroncosAugust 31Practice squadSTaylor RappDenver BroncosSeptember 7Practice squadWRLil'Jordan HumphreyDenver BroncosSeptember 151 year, $1.215 millionLSMitchell FraboniDenver BroncosSeptember 26Promoted to activeOLBJahfari HarveyLas Vegas RaidersSeptember 29Practice squadFBAdam PrenticeDenver BroncosOctober 3Promoted to activeWRLil'Jordan HumphreyDenver BroncosOctober 3Practice squadWRCam RossDenver BroncosOctober 6Practice squad
Departures Position Player Date Notes Source(s)ILBDre GreenlawMarch 12Released/post-June 1TMarques CoxMay 8WaivedOLBGarrett NelsonMay 8WaivedRBDeuce VaughnMay 12WaivedCBWill WrightMay 12WaivedCBPaul ManningJune 16WaivedWRMichael Woods IIJune 16Waived/injuredCBAhmari HarveyJune 18WaivedGNash JonesJune 18WaivedWRMichael Woods IIJune 24Waived from IRCBBlake CottonJuly 31Waived/injuredCBBlake CottonAugust 2Waived from IRCBJaden RobinsonAugust 7WaivedCBSam WebbAugust 8ReleasedILBLevelle BaileyAugust 20Waived/injuredWRHakeem ButlerAugust 25WaivedWRKyre DuplessisAugust 26WaivedSTaylor RappAugust 26ReleasedDTIsrael AntwineAugust 30WaivedCBBrent AustinAugust 30WaivedWRMichael BandyAugust 30WaivedLSLuke BassoAugust 30WaivedLSMitchell FraboniAugust 30ReleasedCBSean FreschAugust 30WaivedCBRicardo HallmanAugust 30WaivedTReid HolskeyAugust 30WaivedTEJustin JolyAugust 30WaivedWRKolbe KatsisAugust 30WaivedWRDane KeyAugust 30WaivedTELucas KrullAugust 30ReleasedWRJoseph ManjackAugust 30WaivedOLBDasan McCulloughAugust 30WaivedRBJaleel McLaughlinAugust 30WaivedNTJordan MillerAugust 30WaivedTTyler MillerAugust 30WaivedILBRed MurdockAugust 30WaivedGGavin OrtegaAugust 30WaivedFBAdam PrenticeAugust 30ReleasedSParker RobertsonAugust 30WaivedWRCam RossAugust 30WaivedWRKyrese RowanAugust 30WaivedOLBDrew SandersAugust 30Waived/injuredTFoster SarellAugust 30ReleasedRBCody SchraderAugust 30WaivedSMiles ScottAugust 30WaivedCLecitus SmithAugust 30ReleasedOLBRon Stone Jr.August 30WaivedCBReese TaylorAugust 30WaivedGCalvin ThrockmortonAugust 30ReleasedOLBJohnny Walker Jr.August 30WaivedDTKristian WilliamsAugust 30WaivedILBTaurean YorkAugust 30WaivedLSLuke BassoSeptember 7Released from PSOLBDrew SandersSeptember 8Waived from IRWRLil'Jordan HumphreySeptember 14ReleasedWRLil'Jordan HumphreyOctober 2ReleasedOLBJahfari HarveyOctober 6Released from PS
Extensions and restructures Position Player Date signed Notes Source(s) G Quinn Meinerz March 8 Restructure OLB Jonathon Cooper March 13 RestructureTMatt PeartMarch 18RestructureWRJaylen WaddleMarch 24RestructureCBPatrick Surtain IIJune 2RestructureGBen PowersJuly 27Restructure
Trades Trade partnerBroncos giveBroncos receiveDateSource(s) Miami Dolphins 2026 first-round selection2026 third-round selection2026 fourth-round selection WR Jaylen Waddle2026 fourth-round selection March 18
Draft
+ 2026 Denver Broncos draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 30 Traded to the Miami Dolphins 2 62 Traded to the Buffalo Bills 3 66 Tyler Onyedim DT Texas A&M From Bills 94 Traded to the Miami Dolphins 4 108 Jonah Coleman RB Washington From Saints 111 Kage Casey OT Boise State From Dolphins 130 Traded to the Miami Dolphins 5 152 Justin Joly TE NC State From Cowboys via 49ers and Browns 170 Traded to the Cleveland Browns 6 182 Traded to the Cleveland Browns From Jets via Browns, Jaguars and Bills 211 Traded to the New York Jets 7 246 Miles Scott S Illinois 256 Dallen Bentley TE Utah Compensatory selection 257 Red Murdock LB Buffalo Compensatory selection
+ 2026 Denver Broncos undrafted free agents Player Position College Source(s) Brent Austin CB California Luke Basso LS Oregon Blake Cotton CB Utah Ricardo Hallman CB Wisconsin Ahmari Harvey CB Georgia Tech Kolbe Katsis WR Northern Arizona Dane Key WR Nebraska Joseph Manjack WR TCU Paul Manning CB Henderson State Dasan McCullough OLB Nebraska Tyler Miller OT Iowa State Gavin Ortega G Weber State Parker Robertson S Oklahoma State Cam Ross WR Virginia Will Wright CB Tennessee Taurean York ILB Texas A&M
Draft trades
Suspensions
Jonathon Cooper On August 30, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was placed on the commissioner's exempt list after he received multiple charges stemming from a pair of domestic violence incidents during the offseason.
Injuries Position Player Time of injury Type of injury Reserve list Games missed Source(s)GNick GargiuloPreseason week 2 (2025)Torn ACLReserve/physically unable to performWeeks 1–4 WR Michael Woods II OTAs Leg Waived/injured None TECaleb LohnerOTAsKneeReserve/injuredWeeks 1–4ILBJordan TurnerMinicampUndisclosedActive/non-football injuryNoneCBBlake CottonTraining campHamstringWaived/injuredNoneDEMatt HenningsenTraining campTorn AchillesReserve/injuredEntire 2026 seasonCMichael DeiterTraining campHamstringReserve/injuredEntire 2026 seasonILBLevelle BaileyPreseason week 1Broken legWaived/injuredEntire 2026 seasonILBDrew SandersPreseason week 2UndisclosedWaived/injuredNoneTFrank CrumPreseason week 2LegReserve/injuredWeeks 1–4RBRJ HarveyWeek 1Hamstring–Week 2WRMarvin MimsWeek 1Foot–Weeks 2–3RBJonah ColemanWeek 2Sprained ankleReserve/injuredWeeks 3–6OLBDondrea TillmanWeek 3Hamstring–Week 4
Practice squad elevations Position Name Week(s) Source(s) LS Mitchell Fraboni 1, 2WRKolbe Katsis3 FB Adam Prentice 1, 2, 3
Staff
Current roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Atlanta Falcons W 27–7 1–0 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 2 Green Bay Packers L 13–33 1–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 3 Minnesota Vikings W 34–6 2–1 Empower Field at Mile HighRecap
Regular season Schedule