Broncos issue tenders to all their exclusive-rights free agents

The Denver Broncos took care of the easy part of their work as the new league year approached, issuing tenders to their exclusive-rights free agents Tuesday.

Defensive end Jordan Jackson, safety Devon Key, tight end Lucas Krull, nickel cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and edge rusher Dondrea Tillman all received contract tenders from the Broncos.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC-Ch. 2 in Houston and Mike Klis of KUSA-Ch. 9 were first on the moves. None of the decisions came as a surprise.

Krull and McMillian have two accrued seasons and could be restricted free agents next year. Jackson, Key and Tillman would be exclusive-rights free agents next year if they return for the 2025 campaign.

BRONCOS GOT CONTRIBUTIONS IN 2024 FROM ALL OF THEIR ERFAs

Jackson stuck on the team and played all 17 games as a rotational defensive end. The Air Force product had a sack and a pair of quarterback hits while playing 310 defensive snaps.

Key started a pair of games for the Broncos — at Baltimore in place of P.J. Locke and against Atlanta in relief of Brandon Jones. He played more than half of the special-teams snaps last season — 257 — and tied with JL Skinner for the team lead in special-teams tackles, with 8.

Krull was the Broncos’ leading pass catcher among tight ends, although his modest position-group-pacing tally of 19 receptions reflects a unit that is likely to be targeted for reinforcements in free agency, the draft or both. Denver had formal meetings with at least five tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week.

McMillian has been the team’s nickel cornerback throughout the last two seasons after making his regular-season debut in Week 18 of the 2022 campaign. Per SportRadar.com, McMillian allowed opposing quarterbacks to post an 85.7 passer rating when targeting him, and cut his touchdowns allowed from 7 in 2023 to 3 in 2024 despite being targeted 35 more times.

Tillman was a revelation after making the team following a stint with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. He blossomed into one of the NFL’s most efficient pass-rushers on a per-pass-rush basis and his emergence was part of the reason why the team felt comfortable dealing Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals at the trade deadline.

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