Broncos' second-year star should be favorite to fill team's biggest hole

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The Denver Broncos made a concerted effort to retain as much of the 2025 roster as they could. However, there is one glaring loss from the defensive side of the ball as John Franklin-Myers signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

This was easily the team's biggest departure this offseason, but it's one the team planned for. Throughout the 2025 season, there was talk that the Broncos likely would not be able to afford the growing pricetag that Franklin-Myers would receive on the open market. The fact that the Broncos signed several players to contract extensions last season (Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, Luke Wattenberg, Wil Lutz, Malcolm Roach) but chose not to extend Franklin-Myers was likely the team waving the white flag on that idea.

But there is further evidence of the team seeing the handwriting on the wall.

Just before the end of the third round in last year's draft, the Broncos made a trade to get back into the third round. With the 101st overall selection, they chose Sai'vion Jones out of LSU. This was a move made with Franklin-Myers' likely departure in mind.

Heading into training camp, questions persist over which Broncos player will slide into Franklin-Myers' role this season. While there is a chance it will be a joint effort by more than one player, Jones should be considered the favorite.

Sai'vion Jones could become big piece of Denver defense in 2026

The Broncos have Eyioma Uwazurike and third-round pick Tyler Onyedim to compete with Jones for snaps, but the Broncos saw potential in Jones for this role last spring and having a year of experience under his belt will only help him.

He saw limited snaps last season, but that is to be expected with Franklin-Myers still on the roster. However, he impressed teammates on a regular basis in practice and has earned a reputation for having a non-stop motor on the field.

The hole on the roster left by Franklin-Myers is considered by many to be the Broncos' biggest question mark heading into the 2026 season. But the trio of Jones, Uwazurike and Onyedim provides the team some terrific options.

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Jones will be the player to watch from that group when camp opens and preseason games kick off.