Broncos agree to terms to keep DL D.J. Jones on eve of free agency, source says
The Broncos are retaining a key member of their defensive line, agreeing to terms on a new contract for impending free agent DL D.J. Jones.
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In the Broncos’ defensive frontline resurgence last fall, everybody got at least some credit.
Few got less than D.J. Jones, at least externally. Those directly involved, however, were never shy to say that Jones’ role in the middle of the Denver defensive line proved critical for a group that went from one of the NFL’s worst to among its very best.
The club responded in kind on the eve of free agency, retaining Jones by agreeing to contract terms with him to return, a source confirmed to The Denver Post. Terms of the deal were not immediately available, though ESPN reported the deal was worth approximately $13 million per year.
Jones acknowledged the agreement with a celebratory post on social media.
The 30-year-old South Carolina native had just finished a three-year, $30 million deal he originally signed going into the 2022 season and played some of his best football of that contract this fall. Jones manned the interior for Vance Joseph’s group, teaming with Malcolm Roach to solidify the Broncos’ run defense.
Jones finished second in the NFL in ESPN’s run stop win rate among defensive tackles. As a unit, the Broncos’ defense finished second in pass rush win rate and eighth in run stop win rate.
Retaining Jones means the Broncos are in position to run back their entire defensive line rotation in 2025. He is joined by Roach, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers as well as reserves Jordan Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike.
Jones is the third impending free agent that Denver retained Sunday, joining backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham and long snapper Mitchell Fraboni.
This story will be updated.
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