John Franklin-Myers bolted for the Tennessee Titans in free agency, and boom, just like that, a massive void appeared on the Denver Broncos' defensive line. This wasn't some quiet exit, man; it was easily their biggest loss this entire offseason. But here’s the wild part: the Broncos actually saw this whole thing coming, and they've been laying the groundwork to fix it for a while now. They weren't just sitting there, waiting for it to happen.
Denver Saw This Coming From A Mile Away
During the entire 2025 season, the chatter was non-stop about Franklin-Myers' price tag getting way too high for Denver to match on the open market. And seriously, think about it: the Broncos went all-in last season, signing a bunch of guys to extensions, right? We're talking Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, Luke Wattenberg, Wil Lutz, Malcolm Roach. All locked up. Who didn't get an extension? Our guy Franklin-Myers. That wasn't an oversight; it was the team basically waving the white flag, saying, "Yeah, he's gone." But the real tell? Just before the third round wrapped up in last year's draft, Denver made a sweet trade to get back into that round. With the 101st overall selection, they grabbed Sai'vion Jones out of LSU. That was a calculated move, a direct response to knowing Franklin-Myers was probably out the door. They planned for this, big time.Sai'vion Jones: The Man With The Motor
So, with training camp right around the corner, everyone's asking: who steps into Franklin-Myers' shoes? While it could definitely be a joint effort by a few guys, you absolutely have to consider Sai'vion Jones the front-runner. Sure, Eyioma Uwazurike is there, and they've got third-round pick Tyler Onyedim to compete for snaps. But the Broncos were already seeing serious potential in Jones for this exact role way back last spring. Now, he's got a full year of experience under his belt, and that's a game-changer. Yeah, he had limited snaps last season, but that's what happens when a guy like Franklin-Myers is still hogging the reps. What matters is what happened behind the scenes: Jones consistently impressed his teammates in practice, earning a reputation for having a flat-out, non-stop motor on the field. That kind of relentless energy and hustle? That's what you need to fill a critical defensive spot. Right now, that hole left by Franklin-Myers is considered by a lot of folks to be the Broncos' single biggest question mark heading into the 2026 season. But honestly, with Jones, Uwazurike, and Onyedim, Denver’s actually got some pretty solid options. Keep your eyes glued to Sai'vion Jones once camp opens and those preseason games finally kick off. He’s the player to watch, no doubt. If he lives up to that potential, the Broncos might just solve their biggest riddle with a second-year star ready to explode.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.