There was a point in John Franklin-Myers‘ NFL career where it probably seemed like a big payday was never going to happen. This is a guy who was unceremoniously cut by his first team then traded by the next.
Franklin-Myers, to his credit, just kept grinding.
Now, headed into his ninth season, the 6-foot-4, 288-pound interior defensive lineman is playing the best football of his career the last 2 seasons with the Denver Broncos and heads into the 2026 free agency cycle as one of the NFL’s most coveted prizes.
Because the Broncos are absolutely stacked in terms of long-term contracts on the defensive side of the ball, it seems like Franklin-Myers is almost certainly headed elsewhere in free agency.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay thinks the best landing spot for Franklin-Myers would be with the Chicago Bears. The Bears have one of the NFL’s most exciting head coach-quarterback combos with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams and will be considered Super Bowl contenders headed into next season after making a run to the NFC Divisional Round.
“If Chicago wants to build on that and remain a contender going forward, it must bolster the defensive front with talents such as Franklin-Meyers,” Kay wrote. “At 6’4″, 288 pounds, he can line up at both the defensive end and defensive tackle spots. That versatility, coupled with an unstoppable motor, allows him to thrive in whatever role he’s tasked with on a game-to-game or even play-by-play basis. Although the 29-year-old isn’t the youngest free agent, he still has plenty of tread left on his tires and shouldn’t have any issues continuing to contribute at a high level for the duration of the type of long-term deal he’s expected to sign this offseason.”
JFM’s Market Value Seems Low for Skill Set
Spotrac usually does a pretty good job of projecting the market value for NFL free agents or players right before they’re eligible for contract extensions, but in the case of Franklin-Myers, that number seems way lower than it should be.
Spotrac’s projection put Franklin-Myers in line for a 2-year, $15.7 million free agent contract — hardly more than the 2-year, $15 million contract extension he signed with the Broncos in April 2024.
The market for a player like Franklin-Myers would be more in leaguue with the average annual salary for the free agent contract signed by Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams before the 2025 season with a 4-year, $104 million deal.
While Franklin-Myers can’t expect $26 million per year like Williams, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see him land a deal that was more in the range of $15 million per year, so likely a 2-year, $30 million contract.
ESPN Puts JFM at No. 11 on Free Agent List
ESPN’s Matt Bowen put Franklin-Myers at No. 11 on his list of the Top 50 NFL free agents in the 2026 cycle.
“Franklin-Myers lacks the lateral speed and bend to turn pressures into a bunch of sacks from edge alignments,” Bowen wrote on January 28. “But he’s an active inside rusher who can play as a defensive tackle or 5-technique with his 6-foot-4, 288-pound frame. He had 7.5 sacks and 23 pressures this season.”
Super Bowl Contender Called ‘Top Landing Spot’ for Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers