John Franklin-Myers had a career year in his first season with the Denver Broncos. He will be a key starter for them again in 2025, but his long-term future with the franchise remains uncertain.
On Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, General Manager George Paton pulled a rabbit out of his hat with a trade for defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. The Denver Broncos made a lot of great offseason moves in ‘24, but the addition of Franklin-Myers to their defensive line may have been one of the best. It only cost them a future 2026 sixth round draft selection.
The former FCS standout has been a quality starter in the National Football League for a lot of years. In his first year with the Broncos, he helped bolster their pass rush and improve their run defense. The results? He put together the best season of his career. Appearing in all 17 games, Franklin-Myers racked up 40 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks.
For the upcoming season, the eighth-year pro from Stephen F. Austin is poised to be a key member of the team’s defense again. But his long-term future in Denver is uncertain, with a handful of other players along the defensive front seven playing in their contract years.
Broncos DE (John Franklin-Myers) Rip Stunt vs. the Chargers off-tackle Lead.
— pic.twitter.com/hAiuP0cUze— Cody Alexander (@The_Coach_A) July 14, 2025
Player Profile
Age: 28 | Experience: 8th Year | College: S.F. Austin | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 288 pounds
Arm Length: 32-7/8” | Hand Size: 10” | Broad: 9’5” | Vertical: 33” | Bench Press: 26 reps
40-yard dash: 4.75 seconds | Short Shuttle: 4.48 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.36 seconds
John Franklin-Myers’ 2025 outlook with the Broncos
It’s a contract year for Franklin-Myers, who will undoubtedly be giving it his all in order to secure a big pay day, whether it be from the Broncos or another team next offseason. Last year, he played 533 snaps on defense, the lowest amount for him since 2020. However, that didn’t stop him from posting the best numbers of his career.
Pro Football Focus thought quite highly of his performance in ‘24. His 82.8 overall grade ranked sixth out of 219 defensive linemen evaluated. He sported the fourth-best pass rush grade with an 84.3, while his 58.2 run defense grade ranked 74th.
For the ‘25 season, Franklin-Myers will once again be a key starter up front at defensive end in Vance Joseph’s scheme. His ability to push the pocket and generate pressure while boasting strength at the point of attack make him a formidable defender in the Broncos’ trenches. I would expect a similar snap count to last season, with rookie Sai’vion Jones spelling him throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
The Broncos have made a lot of quality additions to the team under the leadership tandem of Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton. They have also shown a willingness to extend and reward players that perform at a high level.
The defensive line has Franklin-Myers, Zach Allen, and Malcolm Roach all in the final years of their contracts. There are creative ways to maneuver around the salary cap, but the simple reality is that the Broncos aren’t going to be able to pay all of them Especially when Nik Bonitto is likely to get a blockbuster deal in the near future.
Of the aforementioned, I would guess Franklin-Myers is the odd man out. According to Broncos insider Chris Tomasson, there hasn’t been any ongoing discussions between his agent and the Broncos. I have no doubt he will be a great player for the Broncos this season. Though I believe he will get his big contract extension from another team next free agency, with this year’s third-round pick (Jones) replacing him in the starting lineup in ‘26.