The Denver Broncos turn the page toward a pivotal offseason,
As 9News noted, two of the defense’s most important voices made it very clear that they want to return in 2026.
Interior defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and linebacker Alex Singleton both spoke candidly after the AFC Championship loss.
In comments shared by DNVR’s Zac Stevens, Franklin-Myers and Singleton delivered heartfelt messages about their futures with the Broncos.
“I love this team. I love the Broncos,” Franklin-Myers said.
“Everyone cared about each other. That’s what made this place so special. I’m a Bronco right now. I’m excited to be here.”
Excited to see the process.
Singleton echoed that sentiment:
“In seriousness, I want to be back,” Singleton emphasized.
He added that he hopes both he and fellow linebacker Justin Strnad remain with the team.
Franklin-Myers and Singleton Are Defensive Priorities in Free Agency
Both Franklin-Myers and Singleton now head into the offseason as unrestricted free agents, putting two core pieces of Denver’s defense in position to test the open market.
Franklin-Myers, who arrived in Denver via trade from the Jets ahead of the 2024 season, played out the final year of his deal after previously signing a four-year, $55 million contract in New York.
He revealed that the Broncos did not initiate extension talks with him during the season.
But he emphasized that he showed no frustration over that reality or that other teammates got paid ahead of him.
“Who really cares,” Franklin-Myers said. “My guys got paid. When my time comes, it comes.”
That attitude resonates in a locker room that helped power one of the NFL’s most dominant defenses.
Singleton, meanwhile, outperformed his modest two-year contract signed with Denver in 2023.
He enters free agency coming off arguably the best season of his career.
With free agency looming, both Franklin-Myers and Singleton project as internal priorities if Denver wants to maintain continuity on a unit that carried the team deep into January.
Franklin-Myers and Singleton’s 2025 Impact
When speaking to the media, Alex Singleton feels like he had his best season of his career.
“In my biggest games I played my best.”
Despite being diagnosed with testicular cancer during the season, he missed only one game.
He finished 13th in the NFL in tackles with 58% of those stops graded as positive plays for the defense.
That ranked the fifth-highest rate among linebackers with at least 100 tackles.
He added another 12-tackle performance in the AFC Championship, reinforcing his reputation for rising in the biggest moments.
In just two playoff games, he had 26 tackles.
Additionally, Franklin-Myers continued to outperform his value.
After being acquired from the Jets for a sixth-round pick, he totaled 14.5 sacks over two seasons in Denver and ranked eighth among interior defensive lineman in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate in 2025.
Together, they were central to a Broncos defense that ranked near the top of the league in most statistical categories.
They ranked second in total defense, third in points allowed, surrendering just 278.2 yards and 18.3 points per game.
Per Over The Cap, the Broncos have just over $23 million in effective cap space, with avenues to create more through restructuring contracts.
Who knows what will happen, but as of this morning, Franklin-Myers and Singleton made it clear they want to return to Denver in 2026.
Two Key Broncos Defenders Make Their Stance Clear on Future in Denver