The Broncos have a big chunk of their defensive core already under contract for 2025.
The biggest free agent decision to make: Defensive tackle D.J. Jones.
Jones turns 30 next week and just played the final season of a three-year, $30 million deal he signed before the 2022 season.
He turned in a season typical of an interior defensive lineman in 2024: Impressive, but under the radar.
Now he said he’s unsure of what the next step in his career looks like.
“It’s up to God, man,” Jones told The Denver Post on Friday. “(The Broncos) don’t know and I don’t know. I’m patient with God, man. I ain’t rushing nothing. I’ve been on the end of the spectrum where I’m fidgeting and worried about this, that and the other thing. I’m just going to let it flow.
“Worrying does nothing.”
A sixth-round pick of San Francisco in 2017, Jones turned in three good seasons for the Broncos and said he’d like to return to Denver if the team’s interested in having him back.
“I feel like we’ve built some culture here,” Jones said. “We’ve brought some culture back. I’d love to come back.”
Jones said he feels good for his age and attributed his good health and Denver’s overall to the strength and training staffs the Broncos employ.
“I feel like I’m hitting my prime and hitting my stride,” he said. “…The way upstairs and our trainers have come together to build longevity here is amazing. I’ve been here and San Fran, but to be able to see how many guys are walking out on their own abilities when the season is over is amazing. That’s not normal. In this league? That’s not normal. At all.”
Now the question is if Jones will walk back into the building later this spring after free agency when the team returns for organized team activities.
Regardless, the South Carolina native said he’s enjoyed his time in Denver and with this 2024 team in particular.
“We were just talking about that in the D-line room, man,” he said. “Just go individual by individual, it’s a special group. Special team. Hate that it ended this way, but all good things come to an end.”
Barton wants back. Inside linebacker Cody Barton expected to play for Denver when he signed a one-year deal in the spring. But 91% of the defensive snaps and calling the plays for Vance Joseph’s defense constituted a busier year than even he could have figured.
Now Barton, 28, will be a free agent. Denver figures to take a close look at its inside linebacker group, where Alex Singleton missed the final 14 games with a torn ACL and Barton and Justin Strnad are set to be free agents.
“I’d love to be back,” Barton, a Salt Lake City native, told The Post. “I’m on a one-year deal, so I’m going to go talk to the coaches and management here and see what they’re talking about, but we’ll see what happens. I’d love to come back. I made a lot of good friends here, love the coaches, plus it’s close to home.
“We’ll see what happens.”
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