Broncos Urged to Add 132-Sack Veteran After $63 Million Free Agency Loss

The Denver Broncos have already made one major move for their Super Bowl window. Troy Renck of The Denver Post believes there is another veteran swing worth considering, and it is not the sentimental one.

Renck argued that the Broncos should look at longtime New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan as a better veteran fit than a reunion with franchise legend Von Miller. The logic is not about which player has the better Broncos legacy. Nobody is catching Miller there.

It is about roster fit, trust and what Sean Payton has repeatedly valued since arriving in Denver.

Jordan spent 11 seasons playing for Payton in New Orleans. That matters because Payton has never hidden his preference for players who understand his standards, practice habits and locker-room expectations. A late-offseason signing is not just about sacks. It is about whether a veteran can arrive without needing a long runway to understand the program.

That is where Jordan makes sense.


Cameron Jordan Would Give Broncos a Proven Veteran After Losing John Franklin-Myers

Denver’s defensive front is not broken. Far from it.

The Broncos finished the 2025 season with 68 sacks, according to NFL.com, one of the defining traits of a defense that helped push Denver into the AFC’s top tier. The question is whether the Broncos have enough proven depth after losing John Franklin-Myers in free agency.

Franklin-Myers left for the Tennessee Titans on a reported three-year, $63 million deal with $42 million guaranteed, per The Athletic. That is not a minor departure. Franklin-Myers gave Denver power, versatility and reliability across the front.

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The Broncos did respond in the draft. They selected Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim with the No. 66 overall pick after trading down, and the team noted his versatility across the defensive line. Onyedim had 2.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and 48 tackles in his lone season at Texas A&M, according to the Broncos’ official announcement.

That gives Denver a developmental answer. It does not necessarily remove the value of a veteran layer.

Jordan, who turns 37 in July, is not the same player who terrorized NFC South quarterbacks in his prime. But he also is not a ceremonial name. Jordan started all 17 games in 2025 and finished with 47 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hits. He also owns the Saints’ franchise record with 132 career sacks.

For a contender, that résumé still plays.


Why Cameron Jordan May Fit Better Than a Von Miller Reunion

A Von Miller return would be emotional. It would sell jerseys. It would hit every nostalgia note for Broncos Country.

But Denver is not building a reunion tour. Payton is trying to win now with a roster that already made a major offensive investment by trading for Jaylen Waddle. The Broncos announced in March that they acquired Waddle and a fourth-round pick from the Miami Dolphins for first-, third- and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That trade sent a clear message. Denver is not acting like a team hoping to sneak into the playoff picture. The Broncos are operating like a team trying to finish the job.

Jordan would fit that mindset because he checks more practical boxes than Miller at this stage. He can still defend the run. He can play early downs. He can rotate without becoming a one-situation specialist. Most importantly, Payton knows exactly what he would be getting.

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Broncos Can Protect Their Young Defensive Line Without Blocking It

The counterargument is obvious. Denver has young defensive linemen who need snaps.

That includes Onyedim, Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones and others competing for roles around established pieces like Zach Allen and D.J. Jones. The Broncos do not need to panic-sign a veteran who blocks a young player from developing.

But Jordan would not have to be that kind of signing.

A one-year deal would let Denver preserve its long-term plan while adding insurance for a championship run. Jordan would give the Broncos a proven edge-setting presence, another pass-rush option and a veteran who could help the younger linemen adjust to Payton’s expectations.

The financial question is harder. Jordan has made enough money and accomplished enough that he does not need to chase any job. He will have options if he wants to keep playing. But a one-year incentive-heavy deal would make sense for a Broncos team that has already shown it is willing to be aggressive when the fit is right.

The best argument for Jordan is not nostalgia. It is not that Denver needs to recreate the Saints. It is that Payton already brought plenty of his New Orleans principles with him, and Jordan understands them better than almost any available defender.

For the Broncos, that could matter more than a famous reunion.

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