With their season officially over, the Denver Broncos must now go through their practice squad and decide which players to offer reserve/future contracts to. This keeps those players with the organization and gives them a chance to be at least part of this summer’s 90-man roster ahead of training camp.
Any player not on an NFL roster at the end of the regular season is eligible for a futures contract, so it extends to players who are free agents as well. These deals do not count against the current salary cap and don’t go into effect until the new league year begins in March.
On Tuesday, the Broncos offered reserve/future contracts to seven players who were on the practice squad.
Denver Broncos reserve/future contracts for 2026
Deuce Vaughn, RB
Deuce Vaughn was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft by the Dallas Cowboys. They waived him following the preseason this past year and the Broncos signed him to the practice squad, where he remained all year despite the Broncos having a lackluster running game once J.K. Dobbins went down.
Vaughn has 110 career rushing yards but the knock on him is his size, as he’s only 5-foot-6.
Levelle Bailey, LB
Despite making the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2024, Levelle Bailey was waived and signed to the practice squad the next day. That’s where he has spent most of his time as a professional.
Despite playing in 10 games as a rookie, he was elevated from the practice squad for just three games this past season.
Caleb Lohner, TE
The Broncos drafted the 6-foot-7 basketball player out of Utah in the seventh round, but he spent the entire season on the practice squad, as he is the definition of a long-term project.
The Broncos did promote him to the 53-man roster ahead of their divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, but made him a healthy scratch for the game. Clearly, they just wanted to get him a nice game check for all of his hard work as a rookie.
Jordan Miller, DT
Undrafted out of SMU in 2024, Jordan Miller has spent his first two seasons on the Broncos’ practice squad. He has yet to appear in a regular-season game.
Cody Schrader, RB
The Broncos added Cody Schrader in December off waivers, right before facing one of his former teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Broncos then waived him after that game and signed him back to the practice squad.
Schrader, who went undrafted out of Missouri in 2024, is already with his fifth NFL team. But if he sticks around until the preseason, it will be interesting to see if he can add anything to the Broncos’ rushing attack.
Calvin Throckmorton, OL
The Broncos value the versatility of Calvin Throckmorton, who has spent the past two seasons with the organization, appearing in 12 games, including 10 this past season. He can fill in at guard or center.
Garrett Nelson, LB
The Broncos will likely hand out more future contracts soon. As reported by Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, wide receiver Michael Bandy is mulling over offers from multiple teams, so the Broncos may lose him.
Other players who finished the season on the Broncos’ practice squad include OL Geron Christian, QB Ben DiNucci, WR Brandon Johnson, TE Marcedes Lewis, DB Tanner McCalister, WR Elijah Moore, TE Patrick Murtagh, WR A.T. Perry, CB Jaden Robinson, and WR Kyrese Rowan.
READ: Broncos Schedule: Which opponents will Denver face in 2026?
Each of those players would become a free agent if they don’t re-sign with the Broncos by Monday.
More Broncos Content
Did the Broncos just fire one coach to make sure they don’t lose another?
Broncos must do everything in their power to sign 27-TD free-agent running back
6 honest takeaways from Broncos’ devastating loss to Patriots in AFC Championship Game
Broncos’ Dre Greenlaw offers surprising insight following disappointing season
Broncos will have huge decision to make at running back this offseason
