NFL Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. The top free agents usually all commit to a team during that period, so be ready to rock and roll to start next week.
Denver, CO
LetsGoDU: DU Stacks Second Signature Win in a Week, Denver 78-70 Over North Dakota State
Denver men’s basketball (12-7, 2-1) traveled to Fargo to take on the North Dakota State Bison Thursday night. The Pioneers had not beaten NDSU on the road since a home-and-home sweep in 2018. Despite 15 turnovers and a tough night for Tommy Brunner (except for a huge game-breaking tray in the final 1:09), Denver rode a red-hot Touko Tainamo with 21 points and 5 rebounds along with Jaxson Brenchley with 15 points and 6 rebounds. Ultimately, it was Denver’s defense that kept the Bison from making a field goal and four free throw makes in the final 4:23 to clinch the win.
In the first five minutes, the teams played even-up until a Tommy Bruner assist and dunk by Isaiah Carr along with a Pedro Sanvicente three-point-make gave DU a 9-4 edge. Denver held a 16-10 advantage at the official timeout spurred by four forced Bison turnovers. Denver held a five-point edge at the midway point of the half, led by Touko Tainamo’s 9 points. At 6:55, the Bison took their first lead, 23-22, on a looping shot over Isaiah Carr. An Isaiah Addo-Ankrah tray put DU up 29-25 with five minutes left following a Denver scoring run. NDSU’s Boden Skunberg kept NDSU close with several step-in jumpers near the paint with 10 points but Denver held back the Bison. As time ran down, NDSU got a defensive stop and bucket in the final seconds but Denver still led at the break, 37-34.
Denver shot 53.6% for the half to 44.8% for the Bison. Denver had 6 turnovers to 7 for the Bison.
Both teams came out cold from the field to start the second half and DU held a 5-point lead at the 17:51 media timeout. Two minutes later, the Bison cut the lead to one point, 41-40, with a step-back jumper by Thomas Wheeler. At 14:46 the Bison got their second lead 44-43 but Isaiah Carr countered with a dunk from a feed from Tommy Bruner. The teams exchanged buckets as Denver led by four, 53-49, at the nine-minute mark following a Tainamo hook. Fourteen turnovers by DU kept NDSU in the game and DU eventually trailed by one, 61-60, with five minutes left. At 3:16 Tyson Garff nailed a tray to give DU the lead, 65-64, to cap a 7-0 Pioneer run. A huge Bruner three-point dagar put DU up by four with one minute to go and followed that with two free throws to essentially salt the game, 74-68. NDSU missed their final shots and Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente finished with a dunk, 78-70, DU. Ultimately, it was the defensive effort down the stretch that ensured the win.
Denver shot 54% from the field with 9 steals, 6 blocks and 15 assists. Tyson Garff hit big shots (6 pts., 4 assists), Deandre Craig (5 pts., 5 assists) ran the offense for extended minutes and Isiah Carr (8 pts., 3 reb.) stuffed the middle and made key blocks. While Tainamo and Brenchley were Denver’s best players on the night, it was Tommy Bruner’s 15 points which included his three-point make at 1:09 that gave Denver breathing room down the stretch.
Next up is North Dakota on Saturday at 11:00 am MT at Grand Forks.
Denver, CO
Ranking the Broncos free agent needs on offense
I figured now would be a good time to do a little discussion around the Denver Broncos and where we think their top priorities should be on offense when free agency kicks off.
Broncos top FA needs on offense
Tim Lynch: For free agency, I’d say running back and tight end are the highest on my wish list.
I’d say pay big for a top free agent running back and ensure you have a monster two-headed backfield next season. They need a superior run-blocking tight end and, if they move on from Evan Engram, a pass-catcher too.
Christopher Hart: I agree with Tim. Those are the biggest needs for the offense. Getting a top-notch running back and a tight end capable of playing inline to replace Adam Trautman is a must. The two players I advocated a few weeks ago were running back Travis Etienne and tight end Cade Otton. Both would be fantastic additions and help take Denver’s offense to the next level in 2026.
Scotty Payne: Playmaker is the top and biggest need. That includes a RB, TE, and/or WR in that order.
Need to improve the run game regardless, need some sort of production out of the TEs as well as improved blocking, and if they can get a true WR1, that would be great too.
Ross Allen: I think we’re all in agreement.
Getting someone who can be the dominant running back and have RJ Harvey serve that glamorous “joker” role would be huge for this offense. And given that they also don’t have a legitimate playmaker at the receiving position hurts them. A TE or WR can fill that role.
Sadaraine: The #1 need for the Broncos on offense is a top-notch running back. I will be blown away if the Broncos don’t sign a top-tier free agent running back to upgrade the offense (and no, J.K. Dobbins wouldn’t be that guy…not with his injury history).
There’s a significant gap in need after that until we start talking about tight ends and receivers. I think we’re more likely to see more money spent on a tight end than a receiver, but this offense could use both to be sure.
Ian St. Clair: Not to beat a dead horse, but running back is the biggest need and priority for this team when free agency starts. Having a consistent and effective running game will make Nix and the offense exponentially better. It will make the team better. After running back, the Broncos need to figure out their tight end.
Adam Malnati: Give Bo a weapon. I don’t care which position. Yes, RB is a need. Yes, TE is a need (thanks a lot Evan Engram). Still, a weapon would be nice.
Predictably, we’re all heavily keyed in on running back and tight end. That was a big part of our free agent profile coverage too and for good reason. There have been many rumors around Denver looking to target both positions next week and where there is smoke there is usually fire.
The question really becomes: go big or go affordable? With the championship window open, I’m leaning go big on premium play-maker positions this offseason.
Where do you stand on this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on offense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.
Denver, CO
Denver area events for March 5
Denver, CO
Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back
The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.
Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.
“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.
Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.
The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon7 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling