The Broncos agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with defensive lineman D.J. Jones late Sunday night, a league source confirmed to The Athletic, a key move in an effort to repeat the dominance the Broncos enjoyed up front last season.
The terms of the deal were not immediately available, but the agreement locked up one of the most important figures on Denver’s defensive line just before he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. Jones, who was ranked No. 31 on the list of The Athletic’s top 100 players entering free agency, was a key cog in a run defense that ranked second against the run at 3.9 yards per opponent carry last season. Jones only had one of Denver’s 63 sacks last season, but his ability to eat space in the middle of the offensive line helped the Broncos’ pass rushers thrive.
The agreement with Jones means the Broncos have every member of their 2024 starting defensive front (Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers are the others) and their top four outside linebackers (Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman) under contract next season.
How he fits
Jones excels at holding the point off attack on first and second down, allowing linebackers to burst through gaps to make plays. He’s adept at shedding blockers with quick, violent hand movements that help him impact the run game even when double-teamed. His ability to move the lineman in front of him has always been impressive given his somewhat underwhelming raw measurements (6-foot, 305 pounds).
“D.J. is almost impossible to move in the run game,” Broncos All-Pro right guard Quinn Meinerz said late last season, recalling his battles with Jones during training camp.
The 40 percent of defensive snaps Jones played last season represented the lowest rate of his three seasons with the Broncos, but that’s more a reflection of the depth Denver has been able to build around the nose tackle than any diminishing of Jones’ play. He was a critical force for a defense that excelled on early downs last season.
2025 impact
Why mess with a good thing? By signing Jones, the Broncos are maintaining continuity with a defensive line that was the heartbeat of Denver’s playoff team in 2024. In addition to Jones, Allen, Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach and Jordan Jackson remain under contract next season, and Denver figures to add more depth up front during the NFL Draft.
Jones’ contract doesn’t mean he’ll need to play a bigger role. It’s a reflection that Denver values the dirty work Jones has done — and believes he’ll continue to do — on early downs for a defense that is determined not to take a step back after last season’s breakthrough performance.
Cap update
The Broncos entered free agency with nearly $40 million in effective cap space, according to Over The Cap. The terms of Jones’ deals — length or total term — weren’t immediately available Sunday night, but a league source confirmed the average annual value will be roughly $13 million.
The Broncos on Sunday also agreed to terms with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham on a two-year, $12 million deal, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported. They also signed long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to a three-year deal worth up to nearly $4.2 million.
In short, the Broncos still have plenty of room to target needs at inside linebacker, safety, running back, tight end and wide receiver as free agency opens, though some of those needs will be filled in next month’s NFL Draft.
Outlook
Jones was the biggest in-house free agent question the Broncos faced heading into free agency. They followed a blueprint laid out by various other teams in the league over the past several days — and even hours: secure your own.
By re-signing a key member of the defensive front, a group the team has turned into a massive strength over the past three offseasons, the Broncos enter free agency with a clearer picture of their priorities. Coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton have talked consistently this offseason about the need to strengthen the middle of their defense. It started with Jones. Next up: finding upgrades at inside linebacker and safety.
Still, the signing of Jones shouldn’t change Denver’s appetite for adding more defensive line talent in the draft. Allen, Franklin-Myers and Roach are all entering the final seasons of their respective contracts. The Broncos may have locked up Jones — and could do the same with Allen and maybe even Franklin-Myers at some point in the near future — but adding young depth up front will always be a priority, a mission Paton reiterated during last season’s NFL Scouting Combine.
Required reading
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