The Broncos must avoid these five free agents at positions of major need originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
With the 2026 NFL league year approaching, free agency will soon be in full swing around the league.
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Fans and analysts love to discuss which players their teams should pursue on the open market, but which players should they stay away from? Looking at the Denver Broncos roster, the team could go in a lot of different directions this offseason, but the general consensus is that the team should address its offensive issues.
In addition to needing upgrades at the running back, wide receiver and tight end positions, the Broncos may also need to address inside linebacker and the defensive line, depending on what happens with their own free agency.
Here’s a look at some good replacement options if the Broncos lose some of these players to other teams. Now, we’ve compiled a list of players they should avoid in free agency.
Free agents the Broncos should avoid
Najee Harris, running back
The Broncos have several options in free agency. Even if a team loses its No. 1 or No. 2 option, there are still good options. Najee Harris is not one of them.
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Harris’ career appears to be at a low point, as he tore his ACL in early 2025 after signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, and it will be difficult for him to return to a significant role at this point in his career.
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Tyreek Hill is another player with a torn ACL that the Broncos should avoid. Hill is about to turn 32, and while he has the talent to make an impact on the court, his off-court antics are something teams should avoid.
In addition to being old and prone to problems, he also needs a big-money deal.
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David Njoku, TE
The Broncos could use another tight end, Adam Trautman, in free agency and should consider upgrading him. However, the team just gave Evan Ingram a ton of money last year, and David Njoku doesn’t mean much unless the team moves on from Ingram.
A better option might be to re-sign Trautman due to his ability as a blocker and find future prospects in the draft.
Devin Lloyd, LB
Perhaps the most interesting position for the Broncos this offseason is inside linebacker, with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad both scheduled to hit free agency. There is also the question of whether to cut Dre Greenlaw, because by cutting him after June 1, the team can save $8.1 million in the salary cap.
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Regardless of the situation with these players, the team has some good options to consider. Devin Lloyd, despite having a career year in Jacksonville, is not one of them.
Lloyd is expected to receive one of the largest contracts of the entire free agency cycle, with Spotrac estimating the deal to be worth $20.1 million per year. This is just too much. The Broncos could sign a player like Kaden Ellis, Alex Anzalone, Quincy Williams or Matt Milano for less than half the price.
Calais Campbell, DL
The Broncos should sign Calais Campbell in multiple offseasons. This is not one of them.
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More:Broncos could land second-best running back in class with first-round pick
According to Spotrac, the Broncos could lose John Franklin Miles to free agency, and Campbell is not only one of the oldest players at 39 years old, but he’s also expected to be one of the more expensive players. The Broncos may need to get creative to replace Franklin Miles, but investing heavily in a player who is past his prime should be a last resort.
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