Though there are still plenty of games left in the 2026 NFL season, the Denver Broncos should already be deep in discussions about what will be one of their biggest offseason decisions.
The league's best front offices already have a keen eye on the upcoming free-agent market and draft class. These are the two quickest ways to turn things around and fix holes on rosters in today's game. For the Broncos, both Riley Moss and Ja'Quan McMillian are set to become unrestricted free agents after this season.
The Broncos would likely love to keep both players, but that may not be the best decision for the team.
Moss will be finishing up his rookie contract. He is getting about $3.6 million this season and, as a former third-round pick, will likely be looking for a big pay increase this spring. McMillian had a second-round tender placed on him this past offseason that's worth $5.76 million on a one-year deal. He'll naturally want more money as well.
The Broncos may not be able to carry both of these players beyond 2026, or, even if they can, it may not make sense for the overall structure of the team.
Should the Broncos prioritize Ja'Quan McMillian or Riley Moss in free agency?
Both of these players are key pieces for the Broncos' defense, but it's a strong possibility that the team will need to decide between them in order to allocate the money saved by not signing the other to fill other holes. If that ends up being the case, the Broncos should side with McMillian.
Moss is a highly underrated player, but the Broncos did select Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 draft and they need to give him a shot as a starter at some point. In addition, Kris Abrams-Draine has shown recently that he adds solid depth to this secondary, meaning Moss could be expendable.
As for McMillian, the Broncos need to do everything in their power to hang onto him. Despite coming into the league as an undrafted free agent, he has become one of the best players on the Broncos' entire 53-man roster. He has developed into one of the league's best slot defenders and he would be much more difficult for the Broncos to replace than Moss.
It would be tough to see Moss go as he is a much better player than most people give him credit for, but the Broncos need to prepare themselves for the possibility that there may not be room for both of these guys in 2027.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos should re-sign one cornerback and let the other walk in 2027