Updated Broncos Free Agency Tracker: Signings & Departures

Here's everything you need to know about the Denver Broncos' free-agent maneuvers.

When the NFL's 'legal tampering' window opened, the Denver Broncos blasted out of the gates on a mission to rebuild the roster in Sean Payton's image. With multiple roster holes to fill this spring, including the offensive line, linebacker, defensive line, backup quarterback, and running back, among others, the Broncos were aggressive in targeting and securing Payton's free-agent wishlist. 

Denver wasted little time answering some of those questions on Monday morning, with a flurry of signings to kick off the proceedings. In the process, Payton signaled to those in doubt that the Broncos are all-in on quarterback Russell Wilson in 2023, investing big-dollar resources in the offensive line. 

However, considering that the 34-year-old Wilson has missed games in each of the past two seasons, the Broncos hedged their bet by also throwing some money at a backup quarterback. Payton has his fail-safe. 

This article will serve as Mile High Huddle's Broncos free agency tracker. Let's dive into the new names Broncos Country will have to get familiar with and the free agents who've been brought back in one form or another.

Without further ado and in no particular order, let's take a look. (Keep checking back as we will update this article as news breaks).

Mike McGlinchey | OT | Four-Year Deal

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The former San Francisco top-10 draft pick was signed to a four-year deal worth $87.5 million with more than $50 million guaranteed, according to reports. McGlinchey, a Notre Dame product, joins Garett Bolles in Denver to forge one of the more imposing book-end tackle duos in the NFL. 

McGlinchey is just 28 years old. He was viewed as one of the tier-one offensive tackles of the 2023 free-agent class. 

The Walton/Penner ownership group made sure to spare no expense in plugging the biggest holes on the Broncos' roster. 

Ben Powers | OG | Four-Year Deal

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Technically the first reported signing of the period, Powers' services were retained to the tune of $52 million over four years, with $28.5 million guaranteed, according to 9NEWS' Mike Klis. The arrival of Powers nearly guarantees that Dalton Risner will be suiting up for another club in 2023. 

At just 26 years old, Powers is just hitting his prime and steps in as the unquestioned starting left guard in Denver. The Broncos have now solved four of the positions on the starting five. 

To wit: Bolles (LT), Powers (LG), ___ (C), Quinn Meinerz (RG), McGlinchey (RT).

That's a formidable unit, even without knowing who exactly will play center. It could be Lloyd Cushenberry III in a contract year, or maybe even last year's late-round pick Luke Wattenberg. 

Zach Allen | DL | Three-Year Deal

Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

After a long and productive Day 1 of legal tampering, the Broncos made one more high-profile signing. Allen is a long-time Vance Joseph pupil, playing his entire career under the new Broncos defensive coordinator.

The Broncos signed Allen to a three-year deal worth $45.75 million with $32.5 million. He's a balanced defensive end who can create interior pressure and stop the run. 

Jarrett Stidham | QB | Two-Year Deal

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos notched a moral victory by swooping Josh McDaniels' pet quarterback project away. Stidham supplanted Derek Carr in Las Vegas starting lineup down the stretch last year. 

Drafted by New England (where McDaniels hung his hat for years), Stidham arrives in Denver on a two-year deal worth $10 million. Stidham has a long-standing relationship with new Broncos QBs coach Davis Webb, as the two have known each other since their teenage years. 

Payton now has a serviceable backup in the event of any calamity befalling Wilson. 

Chris Manhertz | TE | Two-Year Deal

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Broncos saw Andrew Beck, a fullback/tight end, depart to Houston in free agency on Monday, but quickly helped plug that hole by signing Manhertz to a two-year deal worth $6 million. 

The 30-year-old Manhertz was hand-picked by Payton for his offense and joins 2022 third-rounder Greg Dulcich and Albert Okwuegbunam (entering a contract year) in the Broncos' tight end room. 

Alex Singleton | ILB | Three-Year Deal

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos let their leading tackler from 2022 test the market, but Singleton ultimately opted to stay put in the NFL city that birthed his career year. Denver re-signed Singleton to a three-year deal worth $18 million with $9 million guaranteed. 

The Broncos kept their starting inside linebacker duo in tact. Singleton and Josey Jewell will reprise their respective roles in the Mile High City. 

Tenders

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Restricted Free Agents

The Broncos opted not to pick up any of their RFA tenders, which included QB Brett Rypien, S P.J. Locke, DB Essang Bassey, and LS Jacob Bobenmoyer. Although Stidham's arrival likely ends Rypien's tenure in Denver, don't rule out the Broncos working a one-year deal with Locke, Bassey, and Bobenmoyer, especially the latter, as he is the only long-snapper the team has had for a few years. 

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

The Broncos tendered LB Jonas Griffith, OT Quinn Bailey, and P Corliss Waitmain. Alas, OLB Jonathan Kongbo was not tendered. 

Samaje Perine | RB | Two-Year Deal

Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos have been linked to multiple free-agent running backs lately, but as it turns out, the apple of their eye was Perine, whom the team reportedly signed to a two-year deal worth $7.5 million, per NFL.com's Mike Garafolo. 

Drafted by Washington in 2017, the Oklahoma product spent the better part of the past four seasons in Cincinnati. Last season, Perine rushed for 394 yards and two touchdowns on just 95 carries (4.1 avg), to go along with 38 receptions for 287 yards and four additional scores. 

As a dual-threat back, Payton is licking his chops over Perine being a weapon in Denver's new offensive arsenal. 

Mike Burton | FB | One-Year Deal

Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Denver punctuated Day 2 of the NFL's 'legal tampering' window by signing a fullback. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Broncos signed former Kansas City Chiefs fullback Mike Burton to a one-year deal.

Burton had two different stints with Payton and the New Orleans Saints before joining the Chiefs in 2021. He was a 2015 fifth-round pick of Detroit's out of Rutgers.

For a fullback, life in the NFL can be tough, and often, their careers are a bit meandering before they land in the perfect situation. While it remains to be seen whether Denver will be that type of situation for Burton, there's no doubt that Payton has some designs for the brand-new Super Bowl champion, even if it is a one-year rental. 

Tremon Smith | CB/KR | Two-Year Deal

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

On Wednesday, the Broncos signed Smith, bolstering their cornerback depth and adding some juice to the returner room. MHH's Zack Kelberman wrote this of the deal: 

Per KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson, Smith received a two-year deal worth a maximum of $5.5 million, with a $1.4 million signing bonus. He has base salaries of $1.1 million and $1.99 million for 2023 and 2024; the latter year includes up to $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses and performance incentives up to $1 million in 2024

P.J. Locke | S | One-Year Deal

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos re-signed safety P.J. Locke, the team announced Thursday. Terms of his contract have yet to be publicized.

The Locke transaction comes amid rumors of Denver's interest in Philadelphia free-agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Time will tell if there are any teeth to the Gardner-Johnson rumors. 

Essang Bassey | DB | One-Year Deal

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos are bringing back Bassey on a one-year deal, per 9NEWS' Mike Klis. Bassey has appeared in 28 NFL games with three starts, totaling 39 tackles (32 solo), an interception, and four passes defensed. 

Despite the rumors of the Broncos' interest in free-agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Bassey reunion, in tandem with P.J. Locke also being re-signed, might cool that buzz significantly.

Riley Dixon | P | Two-Year Deal

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back, Dixon, a 2016 seventh-round pick of Denver's. The Broncos traded him in 2018 in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick, and promptly signed Marquette King. That didn't pan out for Denver. 

Since then, Dixon has played for the Giants and Rams. He returns back to the team that drafted him, which prompted the Broncos to rescind the exclusive rights free-agent tender they placed on last year's punter, Corliss Waitman. 

Waitman was bad in 2022. The Broncos upgraded at punter by adding Dixon, even if he's not an All-Pro. 

Tony Jones | RB | One-Year Deal

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Denver's future at running back is still a bit murky with Javonte Williams' injury recovery, so the team signed another running back. Jones is a 5-foot-11, 224-pound back with a history with Payton. 

Jones appeared in 18 games in New Orleans from 2020-222, including five starts. To date, he's totaled 67 carries for 179 yards (2.7 avg.) and 10 receptions for 59 yards (5.9 avg).

Perhaps not great numbers at first glance, but Payton likes him. So there's that. 

Kyle Fuller | OL | One-Year Deal

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos got their center, or at least, a guy who's started games at the position with Russell Wilson. Fuller lands in Denver and gives some veteran competition to Lloyd Cushenberry III. 

Departures

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos couldn't bring everyone back. Here's a list we'll keep updated of free agents who've signed elsewhere.

Dre'Mont Jones | DL | Seattle Seahawks: Three years, $51.5M deal.

Andrew Beck | FB/TE | Houston Texans: Two years, $6.75M.

Mike Boone | RB | Houston Texans: Two years, $3.1M.

Calvin Anderson | OT | New England Patriots: Two-year deal.

Eric Saubert | TE | Miami Dolphins: One-year deal.

DeShawn Williams | DT | Carolina Panthers: One-year deal. 

Graham Glasgow | OL | Detroit Lions: One-year, $4.5M deal. 

Chase Edmonds | RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers: One-year deal. 

Jacob Bobenmoyer | LS | Las Vegas Raiders: Three-year deal. 

---

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!