The Denver Broncos are gaining another level of financial flexibility this offseason, and they could utilize part of it to raid their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, to bolster their roster for the 2026 season.
The Broncos’ roster has few holes overall.
That does not mean there is no room for improvement and/or innovation, and that is where the Chiefs’ group comes in.
Chiefs Playmaker Predicted to Join Broncos
GettyBryan Cook #6 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates his Super Bowl interception against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Broncos finished the season ranked second in overall defense and third in scoring on that side of the ball, despite some key players on their 2025 roster missing multiple games. CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles suggested a hedge against similar pitfalls next season.
Denver was forced to turn to former starter P.J. Locke after losing Brandon Jones to an injury.
More than just replacing Locke, Pereles suggests the Broncos could target Chiefs safety and two-time Super Bowl champion Bryan Cook to upgrade the position.
“Cook goes from the Chiefs to one of their AFC West rivals in this projected move,” Pereles wrote on January 28. “Denver has two impending free agent safeties who have played significant snaps for them this season, and should they lose either one, Cook would fill in nicely.”
Cook, 26, was the No. 62 overall pick of the 2022 draft.
He finished the 2025 season with career highs of 85 total tackles and 6 pass deflections. He also started all 17 regular-season games for the second consecutive season.
Cook is coming off a four-year, $5.8 million rookie-scale contract with the Chiefs. The market will set his value, unless he agrees to an extension ahead of time. Spotrac projects a $14.2 million average annual salary with a four-year, $56.7 million contract as an example.
Pereles also linked the Broncos to Breece Hall (New York Jets), Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints), George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys), and Jaylinn Hawkins (New England Patriots).
Broncos Could Put AFC West Rival in Bind
GettyBryan Cook #6 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Browns.
The Broncos potentially signing Cook would add a player who has become a proven playmaker on the back end. It would also significantly impact how the Chiefs plan their roster moves for the rest of the offseason.
ESPN’s Nate Taylor noted Cook was frequently “limiting big plays.”
“As a three-year starter, Cook was by far the Chiefs’ best safety. In defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s complex scheme, the safety is one of the most critical positions, given the player’s need for versatility. Cook played 83% of the defensive snaps this season and recorded a career-high six pass breakups and 85 tackles,” Taylor wrote in an article updated on January 28.
“If Cook joins another team in free agency, the Chiefs will have just Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks, who Spagnuolo said made more mistakes as a second-year player than he expected.”
The Broncos swept the Chiefs for the first time since 2014 this past regular season. They can deliver another blow to their heated rival this offseason in free agency. The Chiefs will already be without star quarterback Patrick Mahomes for most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign.
Broncos Safety Room Deep
GettyTalanoa Hufanga #9 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pereles’ note on the Broncos’ pending free agents suggests a more immediate need than what actually exists for Denver. Locke and fellow reserves Devon Key–a First Team All-Pro on special teams in 2025–and Delarrin Turner-Yell are the Broncos’ two players heading for free agency.
Jones is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp if not sooner. He and fellow starter Talanoa Hufanga are both under contract through at least the 2026 season.
Denver also has rookie first-round pick Jahdae Barron.
Barron’s versatility to play any position in the secondary was among the pros of the Broncos’ decision. He may be destined for their nickelback role with current starter Ja’Quan McMillian also a free agent this spring.
Still, Cook would be a luxury addition, unless the Broncos plan on cutting Jones from their roster over the offseason.
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