The Kansas City Chiefs will look to regain control of the division in 2026 after the Denver Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015. It was a balance of an opportunistic offense with a stifling defense leading the charge, forcing the Chiefs to find ways to return to the top of the mountain this offseason.
Denver's defense ranked first in the league in team sacks (68), and a lot of that success stemmed from its overpowering defensive line. John Franklin-Myers wasn't the star upfront for this unit, but he was a versatile contributor who made a big impact for the Broncos.
With Franklin-Myers hitting free agency, there's a good chance he won't re-sign with the Broncos, which would be a win for the Chiefs in the long run.
Chiefs Likely Won’t Have to Worry About John Franklin-Myers in 2026
Franklin-Myers got traded to the Broncos in 2024 and provided them with an effective defensive linemen. In 33 games with the Broncos, he has tallied 65 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 33 quarterback hits, and 14.5 sacks. In addition, he has generated 92 pressures and 59 hurries.
Franklin-Myers found ways to consistently get into the backfield while also lining up at end and tackle on both sides of the defensive line. His latest Pro Football Focus grades declined from his 2024 effort; however, his improved grade as a run-stopper could have the Chiefs' attention:
PFF Grade | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
Overall Grade | 82.8 (6th among 132 graded defensive linemen) | 61.3 (53rd among 134 graded defensive linemen) |
Run Defense Grade | 58.2 (46th among 132 graded defensive linemen) | 65.4 (25th among 134 graded defensive linemen) |
Pass Rush Grade | 84.3 (4th among 132 graded defensive linemen) | 68.9 (37th among 134 graded defensive linemen) |
Franklin-Myers is a player who will garner plenty of interest on the open market and land a nice deal next month. Spotrac projects that Franklin-Myers will sign a two-year, $15.7 million deal in free agency.
Denver sits in the middle of the pack in the league in terms of cap space, as it has $28.8 million in salary cap space, per OverTheCap. Nonetheless, with 22 players hitting free agency, the Broncos will have to consider who deserves a new deal.
The Broncos already signed Nik Bonitto (four-year, $120 million) and Zach Allen (four-year, $102 million) to extensions last offseason, investing in their defensive line. They also gave cornerback Patrick Surtain a four-year, $96 million extension in 2024.
The reigning AFC West Champions poured a lot of money into that defense, making the odds slimmer that they'll do the same with Franklin-Myers. Denver also has other holes on this team that need to be filled, including a true No. 1 pass catcher and another running back to add in the backfield next to RJ Harvey.
With these other holes mounting on the team, Denver may not be inclined to give another defensive piece money to stick around. Whenever an effective player touches free agency, he gets a hefty deal, and that should be the case with Franklin-Myers.
Seeing a division rival weaken is a sight to see this offseason, and fans in Chiefs Kingdom should keep an eye on Franklin-Myers' future. A departure would negatively impact the Broncos' defensive line, opening the door for the Chiefs to reclaim their divisional crown next season in the process.