D.J. Jones says Broncos’ playoff loss is a stepping stone: ‘You remember this’

“Getting beat like this prepares us [for next time], because you remember this,” Broncos DL D.J. Jones said. “You remember this forever.”

The Denver Broncos overcame the odds in 2024 and punched a playoff ticket with 10 wins despite starting a rookie quarterback.

The impressive season came to an end in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs with a 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but defensive lineman D.J. Jones views the overall season as a step in the right direction.

“I’m just proud of this team, man,” Jones said in a postgame interview with Scotty Gange of 9News. “I can’t say anything negative — if you want to say it like this, we defied the odds. We beat everybody’s expectations [and] I think we beat our own. So there’s nothing to hang our head about. We made it to this point and I think that’s a stepping stone for who’s next to come. As far the culture goes, I think we build on it, so that’s all that matters.”

Jones went on to note that Sunday’s loss will prepare the team for their next playoff game.

“Getting beat like this prepares us, because you remember this,” Jones said. “You remember this forever. As long as everybody’s career goes on, everybody will remember this game.”

It’s notable that Jones said “us” because he is scheduled to become a free agent in March. If Jones is going to help the Broncos take the next step in 2025, he’ll have to re-sign with the team this spring.

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Broncos have 19 players scheduled to become free agents in 2025

The Broncos have 19 players scheduled to become free agents in 2025, including RB Javonte Willams, DL D.J. Jones and QB Zach Wilson.

After falling to the Buffalo Bills 31-7 in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, the Denver Broncos have have now entered offseason mode.

The Broncos have 19 players scheduled to become free agents this spring, including 13 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in the spring, according to OverTheCap.com.

The team’s list of UFAs includes running back Javonte Williams, defensive lineman D.J. Jones, inside linebacker Cody Barton and both backup quarterbacks: Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

Denver also has a restricted free agents in long snapper Mitchell Fraboni, plus five exclusive rights free agents, including slot cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian. Here’s a quick list of the team’s 19 pending free agents, with the RFAs and ERFAs noted.

Broncos 2025 free agents

  1. DL D.J. Jones
  2. QB Zach Wilson
  3. QB Jarrett Stidham
  4. LB Cody Barton
  5. CB Tremon Smith
  6. RB Javonte Williams
  7. P Riley Dixon
  8. LB Justin Strnad
  9. OL Matt Peart
  10. CB Levi Wallace
  11. LB Zach Cunningham
  12. FB Michael Burton
  13. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  14. LS Mitchell Fraboni (RFA)
  15. TE Lucas Krull (ERFA)
  16. OLB Dondrea Tillman (ERFA)
  17. DB Devon Key (ERFA)
  18. DL Jordan Jackson (ERFA)
  19. CB Ja’Quan McMillian (ERFA)

The NFL’s 2025 negotiating period will run from March 10-12 ahead of the official start of NFL free agency on March 12.

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12 players who might play last game for Broncos on Sunday

These players might be playing their final game with the Broncos on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos will aim to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs with a win (or tie) against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. If they don’t beat the Chiefs, the Broncos’ season could end in Week 18.

Whenever their season does end, the Broncos will have 13 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in the spring, according to OverTheCap.com.

The list of UFAs includes running back Javonte Williams, defensive lineman D.J. Jones, linebacker Cody Barton and both backup quarterbacks: Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

Some of those players might not return in 2025, so if Denver does not make the playoffs, Sunday could be their final game with the Broncos.

Broncos 2025 free agents

  1. DL D.J. Jones
  2. QB Zach Wilson
  3. QB Jarrett Stidham
  4. LB Cody Barton
  5. CB Tremon Smith
  6. RB Javonte Williams
  7. P Riley Dixon
  8. LB Justin Strnad
  9. OL Matt Peart
  10. LB Zach Cunningham
  11. FB Michael Burton
  12. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey

The NFL’s 2025 negotiating period will run from March 10-12 ahead of the official start of NFL free agency on March 12.

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Broncos have 21 players scheduled to become free agents in 2025

The Broncos’ list of players scheduled to become free agents in 2025 includes Garett Bolles, Javonte Williams and the both backup QBs.

The Denver Broncos have already given a four-year contract extension to outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. Now attention turns toward the team’s 21 other players scheduled to become free agents in 2025.

The Broncos have 14 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in the spring, according to OverTheCap.com. Perhaps most notable among the team’s UFAs is left tackle Garett Bolles. The list of UFAs also includes running back Javonte Williams, defensive lineman D.J. Jones, linebacker Cody Barton and both backup quarterbacks: Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.

Denver also has a pair of restricted free agents in offensive lineman Quinn Bailey and long snapper Mitchell Fraboni, plus five exclusive rights free agents, including cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian. Here’s a quick list of the team’s 21 pending free agents, with the RFAs and ERFAs noted.

Broncos 2025 free agents

  1. OT Garett Bolles
  2. DL D.J. Jones
  3. QB Zach Wilson
  4. QB Jarrett Stidham
  5. LB Cody Barton
  6. CB Tremon Smith
  7. RB Javonte Williams
  8. P Riley Dixon
  9. LB Justin Strnad
  10. OL Matt Peart
  11. CB Levi Wallace
  12. LB Zach Cunningham
  13. FB Michael Burton
  14. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  15. OL Quinn Bailey (RFA)
  16. LS Mitchell Fraboni (RFA)
  17. TE Lucas Krull (ERFA)
  18. OLB Dondrea Tillman (ERFA)
  19. DB Devon Key (ERFA)
  20. DL Jordan Jackson (ERFA)
  21. CB Ja’Quan McMillian (ERFA)

The NFL’s 2025 negotiating period will run from March 10-12 ahead of the official start of NFL free agency on March 12.

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NFL trade deadline: Tracking Broncos news and rumors

Today is the NFL trade deadline. We will be tracking Broncos news and rumors on this page.

Story update: The NFL’s trade deadline has passed and the only move the Broncos made was trading pass rusher Baron Browning to the Cardinals. See our original post below.


The 2024 NFL trade deadline is 2:00 p.m. MT today (Tuesday, Nov. 5). We will be tracking any potential moves the Denver Broncos make on this page.

Latest Broncos trade news

  • Denver agreed to trade outside linebacker Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick on Monday.
  • ESPN has reported that more moves could be on the way.
  • The Broncos have received trade interest in wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the past, but GM George Paton seems unlikely to trade away rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s favorirte target.

Potential Broncos trade candidates

  1. QB Jarrett Stidham
  2. QB Zach Wilson
  3. CB Damarri Mathis
  4. TE Greg Dulcich
  5. WR Courtland Sutton

Potential trade targets to watch

  1. TE David Njoku
  2. TE Evan Engram
  3. TE Taysom Hill
  4. WR Tee Higgins
  5. WR Christian Kirk

Players Broncos aren’t expected to trade

  1. DL D.J. Jones

Check back leading up to the NFL trade deadline as this page will be updated if the Broncos make any moves today.

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Ravens vs. Broncos: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-10 win in Week 9

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 9 at M&T Bank Stadium

Denver entered the game 5-3 with the NFL’s third-ranked defense, but the Baltimore offense shredded them, as Vance Joseph’s defense surrendered 396 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon.

The Ravens are 6-3 after a 41-10 win over the emerging Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.

Here are the top photos from the win.

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Lamar Jackson finished with perfect passer rating as Ravens demolish Broncos 41-10

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson finished with a perfect passer rating in Week 10 as the Ravens defeated the Broncos 41-10

The Ravens spent all week talking about removing the taste of an ugly loss to the Browns in Week 8. John Harbaugh’s team responded solidly, dominating the upstart Broncos 41-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Denver entered the game 5-3 with the NFL’s third-ranked defense, but the Baltimore offense shredded them, as Vance Joseph’s defense surrendered 396 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon.

With talk about Josh Allen potentially winning MVP, Jackson completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, marking his fourth perfect passer rating.

Derrick Henry finished with 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns, moving past Barry Sanders for 10th on the all-time touchdowns list and going over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.

Zay Flowers had another 100-yard game, finishing with 127 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

On defense, Zach Orr’s unit surrendered 319 yards, including 197 passing and, most importantly, just ten points.

Baltimore will now prepare for Cincinnati on a short week and Amazon’s Thursday Night Football.

Report: Broncos won’t deal D.J. Jones ahead of NFL trade deadline

The Broncos will not part with defensive lineman D.J. Jones at the NFL trade deadline.

The Denver Broncos won’t be sellers at the NFL trade deadline.

NFL teams have expressed interest in Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones, but the team “isn’t moving” him, according to a report from The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini.

Jones (6-0, 305 pounds) signed a three-year, $30 million deal with Denver in 2022. Over the last two and a half seasons, Jones has totaled 97 tackles (nine behind the line of scrimmage), six pass breakups, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 39 games, all of them starts.

Jones, 29, is set to earn $10 million this season before becoming a free agent in 2025. He is part of a Broncos’ defensive line that now also features Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. Denver has a formidable front three and the team has no plans of breaking it up.

The Broncos were also expected to receive interest in pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, but Denver’s not expected to trade him, either. Russini expects the team to stand pat at the NFL trade deadline (Tuesday, Nov. 5).

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8 players Broncos could trade away before NFL trade deadline

Should the Broncos consider trading any of these players before the NFL’s deadline?

The NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) is less than a week away and with multiple trades already completed, there have been some rumblings that the Denver Broncos could get involved in the action.

We have been focused on several outside players the Broncos could bring in, but today we’re turning our attention to players that Denver could ship out.

We’ve put together a quick list of eight players the Broncos could entertain trading away before the deadline.

Of note, NFL Network has reported that teams could call about pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, but the Broncos seem very unlikely to trade him, so we did not include Cooper on our list.

Players Broncos could trade before deadline

1. RB Javonte Williams: He is the team’s best blocking back and Audric Estime has had some struggles with fumbles, so Denver might not be ready to move on from Williams just yet. He’s set to become a free agent next year, though, so the Broncos could perhaps send him to a team like the Cowboys in exchange for a draft pick.

2. OT Mike McGlinchey: His contract could complicate a potential trade, but McGlinchey has suddenly become expendable following the emergency of Alex Palczewski. Denver might prefer to make this kind of move during the offseason, though.

3. DL D.J. Jones: With Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers playing so well and Malcolm Roach rotating in, the Broncos might thinking about trading Jones before he hits free agency in 2025.

4. WR Courtland Sutton: He is Bo Nix’s favorite target, but Denver has received plenty of interest in Sutton over the last two seasons. We’ll see if teams call the Broncos about Sutton again before this year’s deadline.

5. CB Damarri Mathis: Pat Surtain, Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian serve as the team’s top three cornerbacks with Levi Wallace providing depth behind them. Tremon Smith is a special teams ace and Kris Abrams-Draine is a fifth-round draft pick who isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. That could leave Mathis as the odd man out.

6. QB Zach Wilson: The Broncos have repeatedly said that they believe Wilson will become a starter again in the NFL. In order for that to happen, Wilson might need a fresh start somewhere else.

7. QB Jarrett Stidham: Denver obviously wouldn’t trade both Wilson and Stidham, but they could certainly move one of them. Broncos coach Sean Payton seemed to hint that week that at least one team has called about the availability of Denver’s backup quarterbacks.

8. OLB Baron Browning: He is probably the Broncos’ most realistic trade candidate this year. Nik Bonitto (6.0) and Cooper (5.5) lead the team in sacks this fall and youngsters Jonah Elliss (2.0) and Dondrea Tillman (2.0) have also made their mark as rotational pass rushers. Denver has a surplus of pass rushers and Browning is scheduled to hit free agency next spring.

If the team makes any trades in the coming days, we will track all of the potential moves on Broncos Wire.

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Wil Lutz had a perfect reaction to D.J. Jones’ comment about kickers

Broncos defensive lineman poked fun at kickers earlier this week and Wil Lutz took notice.

During his media availability earlier this week, Denver Broncos defensive lineman D.J. Jones was asked if he has to prepare differently to get himself ready physically now that he’s in his eighth season in the NFL.

“Oh yeah,” Jones said. “If anyone tells you, ‘No,’ they’re lying — or they’re a kicker. You have to hone into the details as far as your body goes and if you’ve had any surgeries or anything. You have to take care of things before you come out here.”

Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com shared a clip of Jones making that statement on Twitter/X, and the video was spotted by Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, who had a perfect response:

Lutz (30) has been in the NFL since 2016, one year longer than Jones (29). Good-natured jabs aside, Jones realizes Lutz has to take care of his body to play in the NFL as well. We can’t blame him for poking fun at kickers, though, it’s one of football’s oldest locker room traditions.

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