Denver, CO

Broncos Facing a Free-Agent Exodus in 2025

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2024

Broncos Facing a Free-Agent Exodus in 2025

In reviewing the Denver Broncos‘ offseason needs, nine different positions must be addressed. The good news is the Broncos will be in a better cap position than they were this past offseason.

However, before we start talking about available cap space, we have a few points to go over that will tell the tale of how much cap space the Broncos will have available from a practical standpoint. On one hand, the Broncos are projected to have about $63.4 million in cap space. On the other hand, that comes with a couple of caveats.

Firstly, that number is based on a projected base salary cap of $272.5M. Secondly, that number is based on the Broncos having 36 players under contract for the 2025 season.

Once the offseason begins, the top 51 cutoff rule takes effect. That means only the top 51 salary cap hits count toward the cap, which allows teams to reach the maximum of 90 players under contract for the offseason. Once the 2025 regular season begins, all players on the roster count toward the cap.

Thus, the Broncos will need to get 15 more players under contract before the top 51 cutoff kicks in. That, in turn, means the available cap space will go down.

How will the Broncos get to that point? Let’s examine the available options.

Denver Broncos running back Blake Watson (43) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of a preseason game Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Broncos defeated the Colts 34-30. / Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The first step the Broncos will take is signing a number of players to futures contracts. A player signs a futures contract after the team’s season ends, but it doesn’t take effect until the next league year begins.

A futures contract is usually for the minimum amount a player may receive based on his accrued seasons and the money isn’t guaranteed. In most cases, these players have spent time on the team’s practice squad. In a few cases, they’re players who are currently unrestricted free agents who the team views as worthy of an opportunity for next season.

The Broncos have 16 players on the practice squad and are most likely to sign 10 to 11 players to futures contracts. Such players are most likely to be those with no more than two accrued seasons but might be one with three accrued seasons.

Players on the practice squad with no more than two accrued seasons include linebacker Andrew Farmer, offensive guard Nick Gargiulo, defensive back Tanner McCalister, nose tackle Jordan Miller, cornerback Quinton Newsome, wide receiver A.T. Perry, safety Keidron Smith, defensive back Reese Taylor, running back Blake Watson, and tight end Thomas Yassmin. The Broncos have two players on the practice squad with three accrued seasons: wide receiver Michael Bandy and defensive tackle Matt Henningsen.

Any player who has seen time on the field for the Broncos in the past two seasons will likely get a futures contract. Depending on how many are signed, they could account for anywhere from $6M to $8M in total cap commitments.

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Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29) celebrates as he scores a touchdown on an interception in the fourth quarter

Dec 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (29) celebrates as he scores a touchdown on an interception in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

This is another way for the Broncos to get to 51 players. Exclusive rights free agents are players who have no more than two accrued seasons who finish the regular season on the active roster. In most cases, they were undrafted players.

ERFA tenders are one-year, low-cost contracts with no guaranteed money. They’re a no-risk means of retaining a player. The Broncos’ current ERFAs are cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, tight end Lucas Krull, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, safety Devon Key, and edge rusher Dondrea Tillman.

It would be surprising if the Broncos chose not to retain the five players, given they have all contributed to some degree, particularly McMillian and Key. If all five are retained, they’ll combine for a cap hit of about $4.5M.

Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles (72) hugs quarterback Bo Nix (10) following the win over the Cleveland Browns.

Dec 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles (72) hugs quarterback Bo Nix (10) following the win against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The other option the Broncos can use to get to 51 players is to re-sign players with expiring contracts. The Broncos have 14 players set to become unrestricted free agents after the 2024 season.

Teams are free to negotiate with their own players with expiring deals as much as they want. The question, of course, is whether they’ll be extended.

The more notable players to watch when it comes to possible extensions are offensive tackle Garett Bolles, linebackers Justin Strnad and Cody Barton, quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Zack Wilson, cornerback Tremon Smith, and punter Riley Dixon.

There’s also long-snapper Mitchell Frabonit, who is a restricted free agent. He’s not worth tendering because of the cost to do so, but he could be retained on a short-term contract.

Any free agents the Broncos re-sign before free agency gets underway would count against the cap, though their cap hits will depend on their contracts.

While the Broncos will be in a better cap position than they were last year, the fact is they still have factors that will cut into the space available.

None of that means, though, that the Broncos are going to be in a bad cap situation. It simply means that the Broncos might not necessarily be big spenders in free agency, particularly if they decide to commit money to their own players first.

The other part of the equation is the available players in free agency. We’ll look at that in our next installment.

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Denver, CO

Purple Row After Dark: Is Denver the best sports town in the US?

Published

11 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Purple Row After Dark: Is Denver the best sports town in the US?

In case you missed it, the Denver Summit — the Mile High City’s new NWSL team — made quite a debut today:

The game ended on a 0-0 draw, but what a great day for Denver sports.

And that raises an interesting question: Is Denver the best sports town in the United States?

The sooner the Mile High City gets a WNBA team, the better.

Me, I think you can’t beat Denver for sports. But I’m willing to entertain other perspectives. Let us know in the comments!

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Denver, CO

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Published

23 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Paperboy has opened its first location outside of Texas.

Paperboy

Denver is a city that loves to brunch and now, one of Austin’s top daytime spots has opened a location in the West Highland neighborhood. Paperboy’s third outpost is its first outside of its home state of Texas. The concept, which founder Rynan Harms started in a food trailer, has taken over the former home of Rooted Craft American Kitchen (and FNG before that).

“We love this neighborhood because it’s still close to downtown but has its own unique and relaxed vibe,” says Robert Brown, Harms’ longtime business partner, who has lived in Denver for nearly a decade. “People know their neighbors, they show up to community events, they’re invested in this place in a way that feels increasingly rare. That sense of connection is something Paperboy has always tried to foster, and we’re honored to be a part of it here in Denver.”

The menu includes staples such as the chicken and biscuit drizzled with spicy honey; Texas Hash with roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg and pecan mole; and the Paperboy Pancake, described as “a cake-forward cornmeal pancake that still manages to be impossibly fluffy.”

martini on a table in front of a bar — FiNO’s martini is made with pickled tomato water.

Also now open is FiNO, the restaurant inside the revamped All Inn Hotel on East Colfax. We enjoyed our first meal there; if you’re planning to visit, don’t miss the signature martini, the Medi Nachos and the caper-studded charred cabbage.

On East Sixth Avenue, the powerhouse duo behind the city’s best new barbecue restaurant, Riot BBQ, has debuted Chicken Riot in the former Truffle Cheese Shop space. Meanwhile, the former Whiskey Biscuit in Englewood is now the Barn, a neighborhood eatery from a pair of longtime hospitality pros, including former Brider chef Chase Devitt.

Taqueria Los Gallitos has expanded once again, adding an eighth location in the former Taco John’s near the shuttered Denver Merchandise Mart.

And just in time for the Rockies home opener on Friday, April 3, McGregor Square has opened its revamped food hall. The former Milepost Zero moniker is out. Now, the space is dubbed McGregor Square Food & Drink and includes six food stalls from local eateries: Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta, C Burger, G-Que BBQ, High Point Creamery, TaCo! and Tora Ramen.

There’s just one closure to report this week: Ballyhoo Table & Stage, which actually shuttered last month after an eviction notice was posted.

In other openings and closings news:

chicken club sandwich — A chicken club is one of the sandwiches on off at the Barn.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

The Barn South Broadway, 3299 South Broadway, Englewood
Chicken Riot, 2906 East Sixth Avenue
FiNO, 3015 East Colfax Avenue
McGregor Square Food & Drink, 1601 19th Street
Paperboy, 3940 West 32nd Avenue
Taqueria Los Gallitos, 5810 Logan Street

Closures

Ballyhoo Table & Stage, 3300 Tejon Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.

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Denver, CO

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Denver, Colo. (03/27/2026) – In front of another expected record-breaking crowd, the Washington Spirit is set to take on Denver Summit FC in the side’s inaugural home match at Empower Field at Mile High. With over 60,000 tickets already distributed, the match is poised to break the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last summer when the Spirit visited Bay FC at San Francisco’s Oracle Park. Kicking off at 2 p.m. EDT, the match will broadcast nationally on CBS.

The Spirit

Washington comes into this weekend’s fixture off a difficult 1-1 home draw with Utah Royals FC earlier this week. After scoring in the 18th minute, the Spirit nearly earned its first victory of 2026 but conceded an equalizer late and had to settle for a single point on the table. Washington’s goal was scored by midfielder Rebeca Bernal, the Mexican star’s first since transferring to the NWSL last year.

Saturday afternoon’s match will mark the first-ever meeting between the Spirit, one of the NWSL’s original clubs, and 2026 expansion side Denver Summit FC. Denver will be the 17th different opponent for Washington across its regular season history: the Spirit has played against 13 active clubs (all except expansion sides Denver and Boston) as well as defunct clubs the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash.

The Spirit has had success against expansion sides as of late, tallying 11 wins in 15 matches against NWSL clubs in their first season of competition since the start of the 2021 campaign. In 2024, the Spirit went a perfect 5-0-0 against Bay FC and Utah Royals FC, outscoring the teams 10-3 with a playoff win to boot. In 2022, Washington earned a 1-3-0 record against Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC and, in 2021, the eventual NWSL champions went an impressive 5-1-0 against Kansas City and Racing Louisville FC.

This weekend’s matchup at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, is set to shatter the NWSL’s single match attendance record with over 60,000 tickets already distributed. The Spirit has also been the visiting team for two of the league’s previous three record-setting attendances: 34,130 fans at Seattle’s Lumen Field when the Spirit took on the Reign and 40,091 in the stands at San Francisco’s historic Oracle Park to watch Washington play Bay FC.

Washington is in good standing in several attacking categories through three matches despite two draws and a loss. The Spirit remains first in the league in rate of possession at nearly 62% and top three in both shots and shots on target with 49 and 17, respectively. With just three goals through three matches, look for the Spirit attack to continue getting attempts on frame this weekend.

Following Saturday’s match, the Spirit will hit the road again next weekend for an away match against Bay FC in San Jose on Sunday, April 5. Washington’s next home match will be on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. EDT when the side hosts the defending Shield winner Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Information on tickets can be found HERE.

The Opponent

Denver Summit FC opened its inaugural season with three straight away matches, collecting a win, a loss and a draw to carry four points into its home opener this weekend. Summit FC dropped its first match to Bay FC 1-2 before drawing Orlando 1-1 and beating Gotham 2-0.

Summit FC is led in scoring by star German forward Melissa Kössler who has three goals in three matches, scoring once in each contest. With a goal tomorrow, the forward would join Alex Morgan as just the second player in league history to score in each of her first four matches with a club. Look for the Spirit defending third to place an emphasis on limiting chances to Kössler on Saturday afternoon.

Denver has only allowed one goal across its last 240 minutes of action after giving up two in the first 30 minutes of the side’s opener. The strong recent form of Summit FC’s defending third against the Spirit attacking third’s ability to generate chance after chance will be a point to watch this weekend.

Three former Spirit players are currently on the Summit FC roster as midfielders Meg Boade and Jordan Baggett and defender Camryn Biegalski signed with the side ahead of this season. Baggett spent four years with the Spirit after being drafted by the side in 2019 while Biegalski signed with Washington in 2021 and played three seasons, both winning the 2021 NWSL Championship with the team. Boade spent the first half of the 2025 season in DC as a short-term injury replacement, even scoring a goal for the Spirit.

Following tomorrow’s match, Denver will travel to Seattle to face Reign FC on Saturday, April 4.

All-Time Series History

This weekend’s match will be the first-ever meeting between the Spirit and Denver Summit FC.

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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