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Denver Broncos DST

Player Outlook
Denver has one of the best defenses in the NFL, and the Broncos DST is a top unit once again in 2026. Fantasy managers should plan to draft the Broncos DST with a late-round pick in all leagues. Led by Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Zach Allen, Denver led the NFL in sacks in 2025 with 68. The secondary, which is led by Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, is also among the best in the NFL, and the Broncos were tied for fourth in the league last season with the fewest points allowed with 309. This should be another standout year for the Broncos DST in 2026.

Fantasy News

  • Broncos' Johnny Walker: Returns from injury

    Rotowire
    Walker (undisclosed) was spotted participating in Tuesday's practice, Ben Swanson of the Broncos' official site reports. The 25-year-old was sidelined for all of the Broncos' 2025 campaign due to an injury, but it now appears he's moved past the issue. Expect Walker to compete for a reserve role among Denver's linebacker corps as the offseason progresses.
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  • Broncos' Nik Bonitto: Participating in minicamp

    Rotowire
    Bonnito (wrist) was pictured on the practice field at minicamp on Tuesday, Gabriel Christus of the Broncos' official site reports. Bonitto underwent a clean-up procedure on his wrist in early February, but it doesn't appear that the star pass rusher is facing any practice restrictions at mandatory minicamp. The 26-year-old has suited up for all 17 regular-season games in back-to-back years and totaled 27.5 sacks in that span.
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  • Broncos' Jonathon Cooper: Excused from minicamp

    Rotowire
    The Broncos excused Cooper from this week's mandatory minicamp, Jeff Legwold of ESPN reports. "He's taking this time, obviously, he's got to work on himself,'' coach Sean Payton said Tuesday of Cooper, who was arrested twice during a seven-day span earlier this month on multiple domestic violence charges, including one felony. When asked if the Broncos planned to let the legal process conclude before a decision on Cooper's future with the team is made, Payton said: "There's a process period from the league and that involves the local law enforcement. We'll continue to gather that information.'' Regarding the linebacker's legal situation, a league spokesman said last week only that the NFL was monitoring the case.
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  • Broncos' Matt Henningsen: Getting work during minicamp

    Rotowire
    Henningsen (Achilles) is participating during the Broncos' minicamp, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports. Henningsen sat out the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles during a practice in August, but it looks like he's back in shape as minicamp kicks off. He'll be competing for a depth role on Denver's defensive line in 2026.
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  • Paul Manning: Gets waived with injury settlement

    Rotowire
    Denver waived Manning (undisclosed) with an injury settlement Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Unless he's claimed by another club, Manning is in line to become an unrestricted free agent. The undrafted rookie would be able to sign and play with any team as soon as he's medically cleared.
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  • Broncos' Jonathon Cooper: Arrested in Colorado

    Rotowire
    Cooper was arrested Thursday night and and booked into Douglas County Jail on a criminal mischief charge and a domestic violence enhancer, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports. Cooper has a court hearing scheduled for Monday morning. Per Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette, the Broncos issued the following statement: "We are aware of the matter and gathering more information." Cooper signed a four-year extension with the team in November 2024 and has two seasons remaining on his contract.
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  • Broncos' Patrick Surtain: Negotiates contract adjustment

    Rotowire
    Denver agreed Tuesday to give Surtain a $5 million raise with an additional $5 million incentive for a Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection in 2026, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Surtain is now officially in the first year of the four-year, $96 million contract extension he signed with the Broncos back in September of 2024, so the pay bump is not a huge change. The incentive doesn't appear to be a difficult one for the cornerback to reach, as he's already made four straight Pro Bowls. If Denver is able to again field one of football's top defenses in 2026, Surtain will probably be one of the biggest reasons why.
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  • Broncos' Devon Key: Signs with Denver

    Rotowire
    Key signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with the Broncos on Thursday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports. Once Denver made the tender offer, the safety had no choice but to remain with the team, or sit out the season. Key also was tendered by the Broncos for the 2025 campaign. He has appeared on more than 200 special-teams snaps in each of the last two regular seasons.
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  • Broncos' Red Murdock: Picked last by Broncos

    Rotowire
    The Broncos selected Murdock in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 257th overall. Murdock (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) is an example of a player with a poor athleticism grade but heaps of football ability otherwise. His skill level as a linebacker is uncommon, because in his last two years at Buffalo he accumulated 298 tackles, including 30 for a loss and 7.0 sacks. Murdock also somehow punched out 17 fumbles in his last three seasons. Very few collegiate linebackers live in the backfield as often as Murdock did. The limitation with Murdock is his athleticism, which grades below average thanks to a 4.79-second pro day 40 and poor jumps (31.5-inch vertical, 114-inch broad jump). Murdock already proved he can play if his athleticism can hold up at a given level of competition, so if he turns out to be a steal for the Broncos it wouldn't be fair to call it a complete surprise.
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  • Broncos' Miles Scott: Lands with Broncos

    Rotowire
    The Broncos selected Scott in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 246th overall. Scott (6-foot, 203 pounds) will have his work cut out for him to compete for a depth role in Denver's secondary, but he boasts the size, ball skills (as a former wide receiver) and experience to find a role if he can make the most of his developmental opportunities. The 24-year-old started the final three seasons of his five-year career at Illinois. Expect Scott to kick off his rookie year competing with JL Skinner (shoulder), Devon Key and Tycen Anderson for depth reps at safety.
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  • Broncos' Tyler Onyedim: Lands with Denver

    Rotowire
    The Broncos selected Onyedim in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 66th overall. Onyedim (6-foot-4, 292 pounds) wasn't especially disruptive in his four seasons at Iowa State, but he posted 8.5 tackles for loss in his fifth year, his one and only with Texas A&M, which is a solid mark for a tackle. He can play standard defensive tackle or end from a three-man front, as he has standout reach (34 and 1/8 inch arms) to pair with standout short-area explosiveness (32-inch vertical, 111-inch broad jump).
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  • Broncos' Ja'Quan McMillian: Signs RFA tender

    Rotowire
    McMillian signed his one-year, $5.767 million restricted free agent tender Friday. It represents a significant raise for McMillian, who made $1.03 million in 2025. The 25-year-old cornerback joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has carved out a prominent role in Denver's secondary. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games last season, making three starts, and recorded 56 tackles (40 solo), including a career-high 4.0 sacks, nine pass breakups, including two interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. He's the team's No. 1 slot corner.
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  • 49ers' Dre Greenlaw: Returns to San Francisco

    Rotowire
    The 49ers signed Greenlaw to a one-year, $7.5 million contract Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Greenlaw spent the first six years of his career with San Francisco before signing with the Broncos last offseason. Greenlaw went on to miss more than half of the season due to quadriceps and hamstring injuries, appearing in just eight regular-season contests. He's made just 10 regular-season appearances across the last two seasons due to lower-body injuries. Greenlaw knows the system and is a veteran option for a linebacker group that dealt with a rash of injuries during the 2025 campaign.
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  • Broncos' Matt Henningsen: Back with Denver

    Rotowire
    The Broncos re-signed Henningsen (Achilles) to a one-year contract Wednesday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports. Henningsen missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles in training camp joint practices with the 49ers. He hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since 2023 and will compete for a job this offseason.
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  • Cowboys' P.J. Locke: Signing with Dallas

    Rotowire
    Locke is set to sign a one-year contract with the Cowboys, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Locke will ink a one-year deal worth up to $5 million as he moves from Denver to Dallas. The free safety will likely compete for a starting role alongside fellow free-agent addition Jalen Thompson. Locke is coming off an underwhelming 2025 season where he played a majority of his snaps on special teams, but a change of scenery could allow the 29-year-old to return to a starting role.
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  • Dre Greenlaw: Cut loose by Denver

    Rotowire
    The Broncos released Greenlaw on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Per Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette, cutting Greenlaw provided the Broncos with $6.023 million in salary cap relief and means that Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad will both serve as Denver's starting inside linebackers for the 2026 campaign. Greenlaw inked a three-year deal with the Broncos in March of 2025 after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the 49ers. He was limited to just eight regular-season games in 2025 due to quadriceps and hamstring injuries, though he managed to play in both of Denver's playoff games and logged 10 tackles across those two contests, and he will now be a post June-1 cut. Greenlaw has appeared in just 10 regular-season games over the last two years due to multiple lower-body injuries, but the Arkansas product should garner interest from teams who are looking to add veteran depth to their linebacker corps.
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  • Titans' John Franklin-Myers: Signing three-year deal with Titans

    Rotowire
    Franklin-Myers agreed to terms Monday on a three-year, $63 million contract with Tennessee, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Franklin-Myers' new deal reportedly includes $42 million guaranteed and positions him as a focal starter along the Titans' defensive line, joining DTs Jeffery Simmons and Sebastian Joseph-Day and defensive end Jihad Ward. After having totaled 7.0 and 7.5 sacks, respectively, across his last two regular seasons in Denver, Franklin-Myers now finds himself in solid position to continue building momentum under new Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh.
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  • Broncos' Justin Strnad: Inks new deal with Denver

    Rotowire
    Strnad agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract with the Broncos on Sunday, James Palmer of The Athletic reports. Strnad was drafted by Denver in the fifth round of the 2020 Draft and signed a one-year, $2.79 million deal to stay with the team last offseason. After spending three seasons as a core special teamer, the 29-year-old has emerged as a significant contributor on defense with 16 starts in 33 regular-season games over the last two years, tallying 131 tackles and 7.5 sacks over that span. Strnad should retain a consistent role behind starting inside linebackers Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw in 2026.
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  • Broncos' Ja'Quan McMillian: Set for second-round tender

    Rotowire
    The Broncos intend to place a second-round, restricted free agent tender on McMillian, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports. Per Klis, the nickel cornerback's looming contract tender is slated to carry a $5.77 million value. The 25-year-old ball hawk is coming off a regular season which he recorded 56 tackles, including 4.0 sacks, nine defensed passes, including two picks (one pick-six) and two forced fumbles. McMillian earned $1.03 million with the Broncos in 2025.
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  • Broncos' Brandon Jones: Tallies 78 tackles in 2025

    Rotowire
    Jones (pectoral) finished the 2025 regular season with 78 tackles (43 solo), including 0.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, including one interception, and one fumble recovery across 14 games. Jones was having a solid sixth season before suffering a pectoral injury in a Week 15 win over the Packers that required surgery to repair and landed him on injured reserve. The 27-year-old safety was unable to play in the Broncos' two playoff contests, but it appears he was a candidate to return to action if Denver made it to Super Bowl LX. Assuming he is back to full health next season, Jones should return to his starting free safety position as a key member of the Broncos' top-tier defense. The Texas product is entering the final year of his three-year deal with the Broncos before becoming a free agent in 2027.
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