Broncos Opt Not to Franchise-Tag DL Dre'Mont Jones | Here's Why

The Denver Broncos made a big decision on the Dre'Mont Jones front.

The NFL franchise tag deadline came and passed on Tuesday without the Denver Broncos applying it to free-agent defensive end Dre'Mont Jones. According to 9NEWS' Mike Klis, if the Broncos had tagged Jones, it would have cost the team somewhere between $18.94 million and $19.73 million for 2023.

"As expected, Broncos did not place franchise tag on Dre’Mont Jones. Woulda been at least $18.94m maybe $19.73m for 2023," Klis wrote on Twitter. 

As expected, Broncos did not place franchise tag on Dre’Mont Jones. Woulda been at least $18.94m maybe $19.73m for 2023. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) March 7, 2023

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We have long heard rumblings of the Broncos' misgivings on tagging Jones. Although there's room for argument, the value proposition to tagging the former Ohio State Buckeye was a bit askew. 

After all, as exciting as Jones' outlook is, the Broncos have to balance that with the realities of what he's produced as an interior defender since being drafted in the third round back in 2019. He's averaged 5.5 sacks and 19 solo tackles per year for his career and while he's blossomed as a pass rusher, his run defense still leaves much to be desired.  

In 2022, Jones matched his career-high in sacks with 6.5, but 4.5 of them came in the first seven games. After the Broncos traded Bradley Chubb — which Jones did not like — opponents were able to often double-team Jones as the only other potent pass-rushing threat, which, unfortunately, coincided with Randy Gregory's nine-game absence due to a knee injury. 

Looking back on what Jones tweeted about the Chubb trade, Mile High Huddle viewed it as a likely harbinger of how things might unfold between the soon-to-be free agent and the Broncos. 

"I understand 'it’s a business'. We ALL get it. We get asked to buy in and care about the organization we work/play for no matter the outcome of our situations. And this one hurts my heart like no other. Gameday won’t feel the same without my G," Jones tweeted on November 1. 

Either the Broncos don't believe that Jones is worth what the franchise tag would have paid him, or the team expects his free-agent market to be a bit cooler than $20M/year. However, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer wrote on Monday that, based on what he's hearing, the franchise tag figures aren't all that far off from what the market will bear for Jones. 

The Broncos want Jones to test that market, even if it means risking his signing elsewhere. If he does take his talents to another team, the Broncos will be faced with the prospect of a decimated defensive line. 

Nose tackle D.J. Jones will reprise his role as a starter in 2023, but Jones and DeShawn Williams, both of whom started games the past two seasons, are unrestricted free agents. Williams was a Vic Fangio discovery, so it wouldn't be shocking to see him follow the defensive czar to Miami. 

The Broncos still have Mike Purcell under contract, as well as a pair of 2022 draft picks in Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen. Reinforcements will be needed, though. 

With the NFL salary cap set at $224.3M for 2023, the Broncos currently have an effective cap space of about $7M. That number will balloon when the Broncos are able to roll over a little more than $10M in unused cap space from last season. 

Plus, as MHH's Bob Morris recently wrote, the Broncos can free up even more cap space by making a few roster moves. 

The Broncos certainly can free up a large portion of cap space if the team so chooses this offseason. By releasing offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, cornerback Ronald Darby, running back Chase Edmonds, and edge rusher Jacob Marin, Denver can effectively create an additional $30M in cap space with only $7M in dead cap. 

With Sean Payton installed as head coach and George Paton reprising his role as general manager, the Broncos will have the cap space and cash (thanks to the Walton/Penner group) to be a factor on the free-agent market, which opens up on March 15 at 2 pm MDT. 

How much of that capital is used on bolstering the D-line remains to be seen, but with the Broncos only sitting on just five 2023 draft picks (two of which are in the top-100), the team will have to make most of its roster-building hay in free agency. 

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