Should the Broncos try to extend Brandon Jones?
· Yahoo Sports
I was looking at the Denver Broncos salary cap situation heading into 2027 and realized there are two rather important decisions they need to make. One very soon and another before 2028. The first is safety Brandon Jones.
So much emphasis was put around whether or not they should extend cornerbacks Riley Moss or Ja’Quan McMillian that I missed Jones being in the final year of his contract in 2026. He has played really good ball through the first four games and Denver is rather thin at safety behind the two starters. Of all of the position groups, safety is looking scary after this year with Jones potentially leaving and Talanoa Hufanga entering the final year of his deal.
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Honestly, I would say both of them should get extended. Jones is 28, so he is entering age wall territory, but I could see a three-year deal working out. Hufanga is just 26 and entering his prime. He has certainly proved he should be in Denver beyond 2028.
What do you think? Should Denver just roll the dice and save the cap room or should they make safety a priority knowing the two starters they have really do lock down the back end of that defense?
Broncos daily recap
Broncos at Chargers preview: Denver hunts for first divisional win
The Broncos head to LA on Sunday looking to rebound from a loss to the 49ers. Denver looks to keep the Chargers winless.
Stats for the Broncos and the NFL after week four
The Denver Broncos have somehow made it to 2-2. If you listen to the doomsayers, we have a terrible offense, a terrible defense, AND a QB who needs to be replaced. The combined record of the Bronco’s four opponents is 13-3 (2x 4-0, 3-1, and 2-2). Both losses were on the road. Both wins were at home. So let’s look at the team from a unit perspective at the quarter point of the season.
Potent quotables
Sean Payton
Opening statement
“Obviously just finishing up our first day here with the Chargers. Any questions?”
On if WR Pat Bryant or CB Pat Surtain II could be placed on injured reserve
“That’s jumping way ahead. I don’t think so, and if they were I wouldn’t say so, but I don’t think so.”
On if he has noticed any issues with QB Bo Nix
“No, listen and respectfully I understand. It’s hard for someone who just gets the All-22 and generally speaking, we’re all… Relative to the details of each play, that position’s performance will go up as we all are and the thing that I saw in the film was, yes, are there certain throws that from a timing standpoint he wants back? Yes. But I think collectively when you’re playing well on offense, you’re doing a lot of little things well, and then that job for him becomes somewhat easier. So that’s really the focus this week is the little things, detailing the little things and we’ll see that in the end product.”
On what improvements he expects to see in the offense’s overall performance
“I think running the ball efficiently, the play action passing game and then the route specifics relative to protection. That player… There’s so much that goes into making his job easier and then if you’re having trouble, for instance, with early-down efficiency, second-and-9 or third down-and-long, those would be a few that come to my mind right away.”
On the importance of timing in a quarterback’s drop
“There are some that are coming out quick with the three rhythm. I’m talking about if we’re in gun, some are more extended. We look all the time in great footwork on each play and depending on the depth of the route, that can change what the footwork of the route is.”
On what stood out on film about CB Kris Abrams-Draine and CB Jahdae Barron
“They’re savvy players, they both have good football instincts and IQ. One of the reasons you draft at that position is because it’s hard to find in free agency. So both were ready when they needed to be and that’s encouraging.”
On whether young quarterbacks’ struggles are normal
“I can’t speak for anyone else. In other words, I watch film of other teams and yes, we’re four weeks in and I think that I kind of get back to that these next two, three weeks are critical relative to our team as we looked at this from the beginning. The only way from my experience that I know how to improve, whether it’s the QBs play or the runners, is out here, but really with the specifics.”
On RB RJ Harvey recording 10 receptions while WR Courtland Sutton had one
“Some of it’s the soft zone coverage that went underneath. There are probably five different reasons to the team we played. Certainly, you come away from that game as a coach and you’re like, ‘All right, we have to find more touches for Courtland for “X” amount of receivers, even when they’re in these deeper zones. We’ll be able to do that, but we start with a mirror right away with ourselves. So we know he can be a factor for… He doesn’t have to be just outside, he can be inside depending on the route.”
On the areas he believes need to be corrected
“The things we’re just discussing now, the inconsistencies, the details of little things. It’s easy to say, ‘Look, we want a fast start.’ Well, who doesn’t? So let’s focus on the attention to detail and then the other stuff will come.”
On what he attributes the slow starts to
“It’s probably a combination of a bunch of things, but I’m not going to say it’s a script issue or… Some people have a long amount of openers, some not so. I think overall we’ve got to become experts in the details.”
On if he changes the approach each week to address slow starts or continues emphasizing the same details
“No, a lot of it depends on the defense we’re playing relative to the things we’re doing.”
On what he sees from the Chargers and the challenge of facing a team playing with desperation
“I buy into the notion in the NFL each week, you’re going to see teams that week-in and week-out, when you watch them play a number of their games… For me, it’s the scheme study, the personnel study and not as much the end result. They had five takeaways in Buffalo, they’ve been ahead in a number of games, they’ve started actually really well. So the focus really becomes on the personnel of the opponent and how they’re playing their defense and offense and kicking game.”
On if Chargers Defensive Coordinator Chris O’Leary has maintained elements of former Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme
“I would say they’re probably… Fair question. With two changes, I would say it’s probably a little bit more similar on defense than maybe than some of the stuff on offense.”
On studying film of the Chargers’ defense from last season
“Yes, I think they’re looking at that cut up. We’re looking at this year, but we’re looking at last year, yes.”
On the similarities between Chargers Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel’s offense and 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s
“Yes, I would say the one common philosophy is you see that fullback and 21 personnel on the field like [49ers Head Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] likes. You see him in not just the traditional spots, you see him in a bunch of different spots. So I think there are some similarities there.”
On if four games provide an accurate sample size to evaluate a play caller
“I think our focus needs to be more on the specifics and the detail of each play regardless. I think [Offensive Coordinator] Davis [Webb] is very fast and quick and understands what we’re doing. So I appreciate the question, but I think that the most important job I have is really evaluating the why’s. I think collectively we all after a game… After a four-game sample size… All right, certainly this isn’t championship football or what we see, how quickly can we correct those things?”
On if he reviewed film from the 2023 Broncos-Dolphins game to prepare for Chargers Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel’s offense
“We just started our first practice. It’s not like I’ve went and made sure [Defensive Coordinator] Vance [Joseph] put all the cut ups of that, but it’s a different offense a little bit. Fair question. There were certain things in that game… If you said the edges and their ability to get into the crack schemes and attack the edges, that’s one of those games where we turned it over offensively, but you get burned a few times and you don’t touch the stove again. You recognize the split of a big… I’m just having a good Wednesday. I felt like it was a decent Wednesday.”
On if WR Jaylen Waddle can provide insight into Chargers Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel’s offense from their time together in Miami
“No. Certainly you get so much film.”
On what RB Tyler Badie brings to the offense
“I think one of the strengths that he has is and this is a valuable trait, you know exactly what you’re going to get from the players. So you know what it is you might want to do with him, how he is in the protection special teams. It’s harder if you don’t, I think he’s very consistent and that allows us as game planners to know, hey, we’re going to ask him to do this and he’s going to do that very well. There are no surprises and that’s a really good trait.”
On if QB Bo Nix should be more effective as a runner
“There are certain games where you try to get him on perimeter. Last week he got on the perimeter on a third down, kept it for a first down. I think you’ve got to be careful you don’t tell that position too much. I think there’s some instincts involved when he chooses to, in a certain coverage, keep it. I think more importantly, calming it down relative to what it is we’re trying to do both in the passing game, the boots, the movements. Some weeks those look more attractive than others based on the edge.”
On his approach to coaching QB Bo Nix
“Hear me out, don’t get me wrong, when it comes to the timing of feet, 3-4-7, all of that is very detailed. Now, sometimes that pocket can get a little… Yes, those are small things that are important, but they’re real important.”
On if changes to the preseason schedule have contributed to slower starts across the league
“Good question. I think the group upstairs that does all the analytical data, they would say we haven’t had enough sample size. The first game of the season for a lot of teams, the scoring was way up. I wouldn’t know for certain if the three preseason games has changed scoring, but there are little things. The new kickoff rule probably has certainly made things more interesting, especially end of game when you’re having to make that decision, touch back or in play. We’ve seen it already in a few games where you’re one or two passes from a field goal where it used to be add another 15 yards. I wouldn’t know if that change—I really wouldn’t know how it’s impacted scoring. I think probably a little bit more time would help us with that.”
On if the team’s success in two-point conversions has led him to consider attempting them more often
“No. Last year we weren’t… I think and I kind of like in the second half, I said this before, in a lower-scoring game, you might take a peek at that call sheet quicker. I’ve just seen so many times where, all right, you don’t get the two-point try, maybe you’re chasing it again. So if it’s a lower-scoring game as we’re into that third quarter, that sheet might come out. It did two weeks, I think a couple weeks back, but each game is a different puzzle, but I understand the question and I don’t know that the first half would give you enough evidence, the point is important. I know there’s an average of two-point tries every year, you hope that you’re above that, but I think it’s a second half decision.”
On his assessment of the offensive line’s performance in the run game
“There’s times where it’s not one thing, I mentioned it the other day, it’s a collective. So we’re out here, there’s some looks we’ve done a really good job with. It’s still that work in progress with the runners, all of it, the coaches, what we’re doing. We’ll get there.”
On RB J.K. Dobbins
“It’s early, but he’s an important piece to what we’re doing.”
On the best way to attack two-high safety looks
“Sometimes we want them in that look and a lot of it is predicated maybe if you’re under center, that look changes. If you’re in the gun, there’s certain dot teams where if you’re under center, they’ll drop a safety down if you get to the gun. If you’re in pistol, they’ll treat it as a dot check. So a lot of it is the defense and what they’re trying to do. We’ll see some teams that are more down safety. There are certain personnel groupings that can… To answer your question quickly would be, there are certain personnel groupings that I think would have a tendency to give us more down safety. Then it’s a matter of what you’re trying to do with the play. Are you wanting shell, are you wanting a down safety because there’s cases for both.”
Bo Nix
On how he has been able to differentiate between criticism that is and is not useful
“I think for me it’s very simple. Obviously you don’t want to listen to too many things or too much of those noise. That’s not going to do anything for you. But at the same time, you want to look and make sure you’re listening to your coaches, and your teammates and the people that are actually collectively trying to make you better and understand a little bit more what’s going on and that sort of thing. For me it’s all about who you’re giving your attention to. Who are you listening to? I think there’s something really valuable about tuning out the noise and not listening to all the noise and the distractions. If you’re not careful, that’s just what they become, just distractions.”
On if he feels like he left plays on the field against the 49ers
“Yes, absolutely. There’s never been a game that I’ve played that I didn’t want to have a couple back. There were a couple of plays where I wanted to make a throw, or maybe not pull the trigger or throw it to somebody else. That’s just unfortunately what I’ve learned, is that you could play out of your mind, and I’d still go home thinking about one or two plays that are just driving me crazy. So it’s sort of a never-satisfied game, and that’s one thing you have to be careful with this job, is working so hard and not ever being satisfied. For us, obviously it’s all about winning. It’s all about putting our team in the best situation possible. So for me, there are definitely several things that I want to change, and I want to get better at. That’s going to happen. It’s going to come over time.”
On if he listens to anybody outside of the building such as his father or veteran players
“I think for certain experiences maybe you can talk to and discuss it with them. Or maybe reactions and certain moments of, ‘How should maybe I socially react over something?’ I think when it comes to the Xs and Os, my mom all the time, she’s like, ‘You all should’ve done this. You all should’ve done that.’ I’m like, ‘Mom, you have no idea. Don’t even start.’ (Laughs) I think it’s just simply that. Not many people understand the plays that we’re putting into it, or the meetings. It’s just us. It’s our group that understands how we can get better and the ways in which we’re trying to attack defenses. Maybe for some certain life situations you can listen to older more mature people, but when it comes to Xs and Os, it’s all about our coaches and our players.”
On what he hears from Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning after games
“I think he understands as well as I do just that there are so many things that go into it that he doesn’t understand that he wouldn’t be able to discuss. At the same time, I’ve referred to him on, ‘What do you do in this situation? What do you do in that situation? What helped you in a situation like this?’ That’s where somebody like [Pro Football Hall of Fame QB] Peyton [Manning] comes in. [It’s] really helpful, and for a guy like that to be available and to help is really cool. Usually for him, it’s, ‘Keep your head up. Keep going back to work.’ Or, ‘Great game. Y’all fought hard.’ It’s usually those kind of congratulations texts or the, ‘Keep your head up,’ type of texts. It’s always exciting to hear from guys like that week-in and week-out because you know they’ve been through it.”
On not being afraid to take risks on the field
“It’s the hardest thing, in my opinion, about playing the position because as soon as you make one throw and it’s picked, then you made a bad decision. As soon as you make one and you rip it and you’re like, ‘Well, I fit it in there, but it probably wasn’t smart.’ Then you’re considered lucky or you’re a gunslinger. To me it’s not about the labels. It’s not even the overall outcome. It’s about, ‘What was this play asking for? Did I do my job? Did I not?’ If there’s an accumulation of plays that turns into me throwing the ball 100 times in a game down the field, then I’ll do it. But at the same time, when you consistently watch and if you look at the most successful guys, over and over they just take completions. They keep the ball moving. They have less footballs on the ground. When it’s there, yes you hit it, but at the same time, first-and-20, you’re not eager to just drop back and just force something out there.
“At the same time, you want to get a positive play and get to second-and-manageable so that you can get to third-and-short. Now sometimes, you miss one and you’re like, ‘Man, that first-and-20, I was a little too safe because I didn’t want to… We were close to field-goal range. I didn’t want to put the ball in harm’s way. We’re trying to start fast. I want to get for sure a field goal.’ So then it comes back to, ‘I should’ve been a little more aggressive. At the same time, if I’m dumb and I do something stupid, then you all are killing me because I didn’t take the field goal. So at the same time, ‘What does the play ask for? What situation in the game are we? Are we in the fourth quarter and we’re down by eight and it doesn’t matter, I have to do this anyway?’ Yes then let’s do it. At the same time, we weren’t in that situation the majority of the game to where it’s just all or nothing, let’s just be dumb. So at the same time, it’s like I want to be aggressive. I want to be really, when it’s open, let’s hit it. But at the same time, I’ve been gotten too many times trying to do too much. In this day and age in our offense, I don’t have to be a hero on every play. I don’t have to do too much. Get the ball to [RB] RJ [Harvey] and he’ll run for 20 [yards]. That’s just as good sometimes as throwing it 20 yards in the air. So I’m actively looking at it and seeing where I can grow. The labels and stuff, that’s where you can sort of get caught up in it. If you’re not careful, turnovers may go through the roof and that’s just not what I need to be doing.”
On why he hasn’t run more so far this season
“I think because I’m seeing the field better and I know where my outlets are and I’m getting to them faster. I think that’s just a product of being in the system for three years and understanding. I’ll ask you all, do you all want me with the ball or [RB] RJ [Harvey] with the ball? RJ. Don’t hesitate. Don’t think twice about it. You all want RJ with the football. I think it’s by play, again. I’ll go back to it. It’s by opponent, and it’s by situation. Sometimes when I get back and set and have good vision, and the ball’s supposed to go to RJ quickly. Sometimes I have bad vision, and that’s when I have to escape and scramble because it’s just on me, and sometimes I have good vision and still scramble. If I had a genie that could tell you exactly what the play was about to be, then I would just be unbelievable, but unfortunately it’s just by play. That’s just where the repetitions come. For right now for me, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to put our offense in the best position possible. If that’s me running 20 times a game, let’s do it. But at the time right now, I don’t think that’s the most beneficial for us. I love running the football. I feel great. I’m healthy. I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time, and honestly my GPS numbers during games are telling me that. So I’m really excited about that. I’m going to be extremely confident when my time comes to pull it down and run, but at the same time, you keep seeing RJ and those guys doing what they’re doing with the ball with their hands. It’s like, ‘Get it to the outlet, and let’s move the ball forward.’”
On if he thinks he’s playing too quick at times
“[Offensive Coordinator] Davis [Webb], [Head Coach] Sean [Payton], [Quarterbacks Coach] Logan [Kilgore], I haven’t heard that from them a whole lot this season, so that’s all I’m really worried about.”
On if the selflessness of WR Courtland Sutton and the offense makes it easier when diagnosing how to improve
“He know I’m doing my best to get him the football. I think in the same way as saying, ‘Nobody’s asking for the football,’ I think sometimes it’s tougher because you want to reward those guys and get them the football because they’re not asking for. You see their effort and you see them working really hard at it. You want to reward them by getting them the football. I just think right now there’s a lot out there on the field for a lot of these touches and a lot of guys getting the football. Like I said, we’re not going to panic. [WR] Courtland [Sutton] understands this business. He’s been in these ebbs and flows of the year. He’s also had 20 receptions a game, and he probably gets a little tired and wants the ball to go to somebody else. I think for us, whatever the play asks, ‘What’s the read? Let’s see who’s the primary. Let’s see if they’re open.’ They know it’s their job to get open, and then it’s my job to get them the football. It’s great to have an unselfish group. It’s great to have guys that sacrifice a lot of energy and effort and they don’t really necessarily care about stats and accolades and all that kind of stuff. At the same time for me personally as a quarterback, seeing that and seeing their effort, I just want to do them right.”
Courtland Sutton
On what needs to improve offensively“From a player perspective, we can always do more. There are things here and there that we may not be fully… I don’t want to say not dialed in on, but there is a little bit of attention to detail that we need to tighten up as players. As a collective, we need to find a way to maximize the opportunities when they do pop and minimize the lack of attention to detail that may transpire over the course of a full game.”
On what they have taken away from previous games to help them moving forward
“We are just trying to figure out ways to collectively be better so we can ultimately win these games. I think that if you look at both of our losses and even the two that we won, the two that we won it was a grind. The two that we lost [were] to two really good teams. However if you look at the overall game, there are things we could have done better, and there are things that we could have hit on and things that we just may not have maximized to our full advantage in that specific situation. It is all right in front of us. We still have the utmost faith in our players and our abilities that we have and the coaches to put us in the right position. It’s just maximizing those opportunities when they do arise.”
On the schedule they have played so far this season
“At the end of the day, we need to go line up and play. Each team—and I think I say this every year, but I really believe it—each week, you have to go out there and you will get each team’s best. Whether they are sitting with one win, no wins, two wins, three wins or undefeated. Whatever it may be, you will get the team’s best. Every team has players and coaches that get paid to gameplan, and go out and execute. There is never a game where you feel as if there is a lesser opponent. I think each opportunity we get the chance to go out there and play, we need to put our best foot forward because we will get every other team’s best foot when we step on the field against them.”
Under the radar
Trade: Eagles are sending two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens and a 2027 7th-round pick to the Ravens in exchange for a 2027 5th-round pick and a 2028 2nd-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/AaGL3MYqS7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2026
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