A look at everything you need to know about the Broncos’ 2020 offseason. This page will be updated throughout the year.
Important NFL dates
Feb. 24-March 2
NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.
Feb. 25
First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 10
Prior to 2 p.m. MT, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 16-18
Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2019 player contracts at 2 p.m. MT, on March 18.
March 1
- Prior to 2 p.m. MT, clubs must exercise options for 2020 on all players who have option clauses in their 2019 contracts.
- Prior to 2 p.m. MT, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
- Prior to 2 p.m. MT, clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2019 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
- Top 51 Rule begins. All clubs must be under the 2020 Salary Cap prior to 2 p.m. MT.
- All 2019 player contracts will expire at 2 p.m. MT.
- The 2020 league year and free agency period begin at 2 p.m. MT.
- The first day of the 2020 league year will end at 9:59:59 p.m. MT, on March 18. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 2 p.m. MT and 9:59:59 p.m. MT, on March 18.
- Trading period for 2020 begins at 2 p.m. MT, after expiration of all 2019 contracts.
March 29-April 1
Annual League Meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.
April 6
Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2019 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 17
Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 20
Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 23-25
NFL draft, Las Vegas.
April 27
Beginning this date, NFL clubs may request permission to visit with, try out, or sign any player who was under contract to the XFL at the conclusion of the XFL season.
May 1-4
Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
May 5
Deadline for prior club to send “May 5 Tender” to its unsigned Unrestricted Free Agents. If the player has not signed a player contract with a club by July 22 or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later, he may negotiate or sign a player contract from that date until the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, at 2 p.m. MT, only with his prior club.
May 8-11
Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
May 11
Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
May 14-17
NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Invited rookies (typically, first- and/or second-round selections) must be permitted by their respective clubs to attend. Such players are unavailable for offseason workouts, OTA days, and minicamps during this period.
May 19-20
Spring League Meeting, Marina Del Ray, Calif.
June 1
Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision.
June 15
Deadline for club to withdraw qualifying offer to Restricted Free Agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting “June 15 Tender” of one-year contract at 110% of the player’s prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
Late June
Rookie Transition Program to be held at individual clubs.
July 15
At 2 p.m. MT, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2020 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.
Mid-July
- Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies beginning seven days prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
- Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension-credited season) other than quarterbacks or “injured players” (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may report to a club’s preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club’s first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later.
- Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the club’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies and first-year players
- A three-day acclimation period will apply to players who are on a club’s roster up to and including the mandatory veteran reporting date. Players who rejoin the roster after that date may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.
July 22*
Signing period ends for Unrestricted Free Agents to whom a “May 5 Tender” was made by prior club. After this date and until 2 p.m. MT, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
* or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later.
July 22
Signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 2 p.m. MT, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
Aug. 6
Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.
Aug. 6-9
Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.
Aug. 11
- Deadline for players under contract to report to their clubs to earn an accrued season for free agency.
- If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other club in 2020, and may sign a player contract only with the drafting club until the day of the Draft in the 2021 league year.
Sept. 5
- Prior to 2 p.m. MT, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
- Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
Broncos 2020 draft picks
The NFL draft takes place April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
- First round, own pick: 15th overall
- Second round, own pick
- Third round, own pick
- Third round, pick via Steelers
- Third round, pick via 49ers
- Fourth round, own pick
- Fourth round, pick via 49ers
- Sixth round, pick via Redskins
- Seventh round, pick via Patriots
NFL draft news
-
- 15 underclassmen NFL draft prospects who should intrigue Broncos.
- Broncos 2020 NFL mock draft tracker 1.0: What the national experts predict Denver will do.
- Broncos 2020 NFL mock draft tracker 2.0: What the national experts predict Denver will do.
- Denver Broncos 7-round NFL mock draft 1.0: Should John Elway pick up a receiver in the first round?
Broncos free agents
via .
Unrestricted free agents
- LB Jeremiah Attaochu
- RB Devontae Booker
- DE Adam Gotsis
- CB Chris Harris
- DT Shelby Harris
- DT Joel Heath
- CB Cyrus Jones
- LS Casey Kreiter
- C Connor McGovern
- LB Corey Nelson
- S Will Parks
- RB Theo Riddick
- FS Justin Simmons
- S Dymonte Thomas
- DE Derek Wolfe
Restricted free agents
- QB Brandon Allen
- CB DeVante Bausby
- LB Joe Jones
- LB Dadi Nicolas
- WR Tim Patrick
- DL Mike Purcell
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
Exclusive restricted free agents
- OT Quinn Bailey
- CB Davontae Harris
- S Trey Marshall
- OT Jake Rodgers
- WR Diontae Spencer
Club option
- G Ron Leary
2019 in review
- A by-the-numbers look at the offense in 2019.
- A by-the-numbers look at the defense, special teams in 2019.
- John Elway’s free-agent strategy should shift toward keeping own players.
- Broncos ownership: Even after Brittany Bowlen’s return to team, selling remains option.
- John Elway confident in Broncos’ direction after 4-1 finish to season.
- NFL Journal: Broncos tight end Noah Fant ready to tackle offseason to-do list to build off rookie year.
- Phillip Lindsay says “I could play today if I needed to” following minor scope on right wrist.
Broncos offensive coordinator
- Broncos fire first-year offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.
- Broncos Analysis: The timing of Scangarello’s firing and what Pat Shurmur’s offense looks like.
- Keeler: To beat Pat Mahomes, Broncos and Pat Shurmur have to unchain Drew Lock.
- Broncos hire Pat Shurmur as new offensive coordinator as new offensive coordinator.
- Broncos podcast: Evaluating Denver’s offensive coordinator change from Scangarello to Shurmur.
- Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur talks play-calling philosophy, Drew Lock and more.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
- The Hall of Fame case for former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar — the leader of the Orange Crush defense.
- Former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar not among 10 players chosen for Hall of Fame’s “Centennial Slate.”
- Kiszla: Tough Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar reduced to tears by snub from Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Broncos podcast: Why did Randy Gradishar miss out on Canton once again?
- Does the Pro Football Hall of Fame have a bias against Denver?
- Broncos safety Steve Atwater elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Super Bowl Briefs: Steve Atwater hopes more Broncos follow him into Hall of Fame.
Other Broncos staff stories
- Broncos fire quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney.
- Broncos lead contract negotiator Mike Sullivan not returning to club, source says.
Senior Bowl Week
- Senior Bowl Journal: Justin Herbert, Javon Kinlaw headline prospects.
- Broncos podcast: Previewing Denver prospects in the 2020 Senior Bowl.
- Injury will keep Brandon Aiyuk out of Senior Bowl, but not off receiver-needy teams like Broncos.
- Broncos GM John Elway on Pat Shurmur: “Itap not a total overhaul of the offense” and value of attending Senior Bowl.
- Senior Bowl Journal: Shelby Harris changes agents ahead of trip to free agency.
- Another Lamar Jackson is on way to NFL and the Nebraska cornerback could fit Broncos.
- Six players for Broncos fans to watch in Saturday’s Senior Bowl.
More Broncos news
- Broncos Mailbag: Should Denver select Henry Ruggs III or Laviska Shenault Jr. with the 15th pick in the NFL draft?
- Colorado athletes react to the death of Kobe Bryant: “Itap just an incredibly sad day.”
- The Broncos’ 2021 Super Bowl odds are in. And they’re not great.
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