It's not been easy, but the Denver Broncos are now 4-2 on the season after another dramatic win, this time coming at home against the Seattle Seahawks in overtime. Denver getting out of this stretch at 4-2 feels like the best-case scenario given how tough the schedule has been.
And I suppose the only thing worth changing if we could would be if the team had beaten the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. However, Denver is 4-2 for the second year in a row and in a good position to make a run at the AFC West title.
Through the first six games, which are just over 35 percent of the regular season, it's abundantly clear which players have played themselves into a contract extension.
Denver Broncos have an elite secondary trio deserving of contract extensions
Brandon Jones, SAF
I'm going to talk about Brandon Jones again, and you can't stop me. The veteran safety is in his final year with the Broncos, as he signed a three-year contract back in 2024 following four years with the Miami Dolphins.
Jones has two interceptions, four passes defended, and 43 total tackles through six games. In 14 games back in 2025, Jones had one interception, seven passes defended, and 78 total tackles, so he's tracking to blow his production out of the water this year.
He's also been exceptional in coverage. According to Pro Football Reference, Jones is only allowing a 73.7 passer rating in coverage across his now 36 career Broncos games. There really isn't anything he can't do, and while he's not a flashy name and has missed a few games the past couple of seasons, he's a do-it-all safety and was one of the first free agency moves this team made back in 2024.
Talanoa Hufanga, SAF
Another exceptional Broncos safety, Talanoa Hufanga already has two interceptions this year for the Broncos. He famously had about 19 chances last year at notching an interception, but somehow couldn't come away with one.
Hufanga almost single-handedly won the game for Denver against the Los Angeles Rams, and it's not like he wasn't an amazing player to begin with. He was a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro back in 2022 and was a second-team All-Pro with the Broncos in 2025.
Hufanga has never been known as a great coverage player, but he's only allowing a 16.1 passer rating this year. What makes Hufanga special his how physical he can be. You can deploy him near the line of scrimmage at ease, but he's also still someone who can be serviceable on the backend in coverage.
He has one more year under contract with the Broncos, but I don't really see the harm in adding another year onto that deal, as he's clearly still in his prime.
Ja'Quan McMillian, CB
Is it realistic that three different defensive backs could get extensions from the Broncos? Maybe not. Is is realistic to suggest that Jones, Hufanga, and Ja'Quan McMillian are all deserving of new deals? Absolutely.
There might not be a more big-moment player on this roster than McMillian, and it's something that has now sustained itself three years in a row. McMillian really began to make a mark on the Broncos back in 2023, but he became more of a staple in 2024 and 2025.
To the surprise of absolutely zero Broncos fans, McMillian stepped up in a big moment in Week 6, as he intercepted Sam Darnold in overtime and got the Broncos into field goal range, but that moment a few days ago was far from the only major play he's made.
And what's really awesome about him is that he's not this boom-or-bust player - he's exceptional across the board, as he can also get into the backfield better than most defensive backs. He had four sacks last year and already has two this year.
He's also added 11 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits since the start of 2024, and he's really improved in coverage as well. Right now, he's allowing a 63.9 passer rating in coverage, which is better than his 2025 mark of 74.2, which was better than his 2024 mark of 85.7.
McMillian did get a significant raise this year, but he's also not under contract beyond 2026. The youngest of the three players we've talked about, a McMillian extension would make the most sense overall.
The 26-year-old has also played in every game since the start of 2024, and that does include playoff games. Perhaps one of the more beloved players in the fanbase, McMillian has risen from being a no-name undrafted free agent to one of the best slot cornerbacks in football.
A contract extension should be a top priority for the Broncos, and his play in 2026 further confirms it.
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