After a relatively uneventful offseason in terms of roster moves, ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz wants the Denver Broncos to make one final, major offseason move. That of locking up deep safety anchor Brandon Jones with an extension before training camp.

“The Broncos have three members of their secondary set to hit free agency after the 2026 season..." Schatz noted. "It would be good to extend Jones another couple of seasons to keep the back end of the Broncos' defense strong.”

Safety Brandon Jones is 28 years old and the oldest of the three players set to hit free agency. But he was an important piece of the Denver defense last season.

Jones is currently on a $20 million deal signed back in 2024. He enters his final contract year with zero guaranteed cash left. He carries a massive $9.2 million cap hit, but extending him right now saves Denver $4.6 million in immediate cap room.

Jones averages a 17-game pace of 109 tackles and 10 deflections. He held opposing quarterbacks to a 74.3 passer rating when targeted.

His deep coverage helped the Broncos finish third in defensive DVOA against passes thrown down the seam last season.

Losing him at the end of last year depleted the secondary room. Everyone pointed to Bo Nix's broken ankle, but Jones suffered a season-ending pectoral tear on December 15.

Going to the injured reserve left defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's coverage completely vulnerable during the playoff stretch.

Why Brandon Jones Could Be Denver's Top Extension Priority

A massive free agency collision hits in 2027, when Jones, Ja'Quan McMillian, and Riley Moss all see their contracts expire. But the cornerbacks can wait.

Moss tied for the league-high with 12 pass-interference calls, getting flagged on 15.9% of targets. He might have to clean that up before receiving a contract.

Denver has solid draft leverage here thanks to Jahdae Barron. The versatile defensive back was taken 20th overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on an $18.07 million rookie contract.

So the Broncos front office might contemplate letting go of Ja'Quan McMillian.

His ability to handle boundary or slot cornerback roles provides a built-in financial safety net.

Given Denver's upcoming secondary decisions, extending Jones has emerged as one of the offseason moves some analysts believe the team should strongly consider.

League experts project a three-year extension worth around $30 million with $20 million guaranteed.

That package secures a starting pairing alongside NFL All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga long-term. Further giving Sean Payton and Vance Joseph defensive stability and continuity.

What do you think of the Broncos being advised to prioritize the extension of Brandon Jones? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Rudra Dubey