Despite being just one game – and perhaps only one fit quarterback – away from reaching Super Bowl LV, the Denver Broncos enter the 2026 offseason with nearly $30 million in available cap space, per Spotrac – good for 13th in the NFL.
And whilst both sides of the ball performed well in both the regular and postseason – the Broncos had the #4 ranked defense and #12 ranked offense, one area that the team should likely look to improve upon is offensive skill-position help for quarterback, Bo Nix.
Wide Receiver 1, Courtland Sutton will be 31 years of age for the majority of the 2026 season, and Denver saw his performance slightly decline over the course of the final third of the season, with the likes of Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin stepping into larger roles as the year drew on.
Even with Sutton, it can feel at times like the scheme of Sean Payton and the anticipation & quick-thinking of Nix often put greater shine on what is ultimately a solid but unspectacular receiving corps.
Broncos Should Look to Bulk Up at Wideout
So, in this free-agent scenario, the Broncos make a splash and sign Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout, Mike Evans as they look to take advantage of their Super Bowl window during Nix’s remaining years under a rookie contract.
A Tampa Bay stalwart for over a dozen years now, it seemed that the two-time All-Pro wideout might end up being a one-team-only player for the entirety of his career.
Yet, a report from Tony Pauline from Essentially Sports detailed that a split from the Buccaneers is more likely than not this offseason.
Mike Evans Could Be On His Way Out of Tampa Bay
“At 31 years of age, Evans has struggled with injury in the past two seasons and played in just eight games last year, catching 30 passes.” Pauline reported on January 29. “Those I’ve spoken with over the past week believe it’s less than 50-50 the veteran wideout re-signs with Tampa and that his career with the Buccaneers is likely finished. He’d like to go to a contender and win another title.”
Although Pauline suggests the Patriots and Bills as natural fits for the Galveston native – which they no doubt are – there is perhaps no otherwise more complete roster in the NFL than the Broncos.
With a stable situation, an elite defense and what PFF rated as the top offensive line in football this past season that included two players who received All-Pro nods – left tackle, Garrett Bolles and guard, Quinn Meinerz – there is perhaps no better situation to come into than the Broncos.
Evans has shown, when healthy, that he is still a high-level receiver in the NFL, even if his performances in the direct aftermath of injury recovery in late December/early January were less than awe-inspiring.
As Pauline notes, Evans is looking to go to a contender in order to win another Super Bowl. At his advanced age, a one year deal for the 12-year wideout would hardly break the bank – and he would give Nix an ultra-reliable, veteran go-to target for key moments and third downs.
Broncos Free-Agent Pitch Lands All-Pro WR After Intriguing Report Surfaces