Broncos fortunate free agent signings didn’t get poached

File this story under things that happen every year, but you don’t really think about it or dwell on it. However, since the opening of ‘legal’ tampering in the NFL the cut-throat behavior between teams to get the best talent on the open market is pretty intense. That nearly happened to two of the Denver Broncos three top free agent signings this year. Imagine how irritated we’d be as fans had that happened.

Mike Klis of 9News dropped some interesting news this week relating to two of Denver’s biggest acquisitions: safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Both were targeted after news broke of them having an agreement in place with the Broncos.

Sources have told 9NEWS that after reports of an agreement surfaced between the safety Hufanga and the Broncos on a three-year deal with a max value of $45 million last Monday, March 10, the New York Jets swooped in to make an after-the-bell pitch of sorts to Hufanga with a sweetened offer.

The New York Jets were the first to try and steal Hufanga out from under Denver’s feet, but fortunately he decided to stick with the original deal and is now a Denver Bronco. The same tactic was tried with Dre Greenlaw and special teamer Trent Sherfield after they initially placed a verbal agreement to sign with Denver.

At least with the Jets, both teams had to work through Hufanga’s agent so the playing field was level. With the other two, the San Francisco 49ers were allowed to reach out directly to Greenlaw as he was still technically under contract and the same went for the Minnesota Vikings and Sherfield.

That both decided to commit to leaving anyway to Denver is a huge win for the Broncos. With most of their defense under contract and attacking their weakest links with the Hufanga and Greenlaw signings, the Broncos look pretty dangerous on paper on that side of the ball. Getting a special teams ace was the cherry on top.

It must be a wild two days for every front office in the NFL during that legal tampering window. All we get are the week-after action reports and even those are crazy. In any case, glad it all worked out for us fans in the end.

Horse Tracks

Photos: Denver Broncos Foundation hosts Scholastic Book Fair for kids
With help from several alumni and Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, the Denver Broncos Foundation hosted a Scholastic Book Fair at Barnum Elementary School on Monday.

What the Denver Broncos are getting in Matt Haack
Matt Haack has shown in his career that he’s good enough to punt in the NFL — but he’s not been good enough to stick around long with one team in recent years.

ESPN’s Kiper: This is the time to take a running back in Round 1
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t usually one to stump for picking a running back in Round 1. But this year he’s willing to make an exception.

Massive Broncos expectations
What should we expect from the Denver Broncos in 2025?