Getty
Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn
Roughly 24 hours after their loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the Denver Broncos had a busy day adjusting their roster.
The next eight months will be fraught with overanalysis of their exit from the postseason, which came with starting quarterback Bo Nix sidelined due to an ankle injury, as well as prognostications about their chances of getting back to this spot and beyond.
For now, the Broncos are starting where they can.
Broncos Sign Ex-Cowboys RB, 5 Others
GettyDeuce Vaughn #42 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for yards against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Broncos announced via their official website that they signed six players to reserve/future contracts in an extensive set of roster moves.
“Denver signed inside linebacker Levelle Bailey, tight end Caleb Lohner, defensive tackle Jordan Miller, running back Cody Schrader, guard Calvin Throckmorton and running back Deuce Vaughn to deals,” DenverBroncos.com’s Aric DiLalla wrote on January 26. “Bailey and Throckmorton each appeared in regular-season games for the Broncos this season.
“All six players finished the year on Denver’s practice squad.”
Vaughn, 24, was the No. 212 overall pick of the 2023 draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He has 40 attempts for 110 yards and has caught 10 passes for 58 yards during his career. He has not played since the 2024 season, when he was still with the Cowboys.
Lohner was the Broncos’ seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft, selected 241st overall in the class. The 25-year-old converted basketball player did not see the field in the regular season.
Bailey, Miller, and Throckmorton all just finished their second seasons with the Broncos.
Bailey finished the season with 5 total tackles in three games played. Throckmorton made 10 appearances for the Broncos during the 2025 regular season. Miller did not take a snap during the regular season for the second straight campaign.
Schrader, a UDFA in 2023, joined the Broncos after stints with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars this season.
He appeared in one game for the Broncos during the regular season and did not record a stat.
Broncos’ Roster in Flux
GettyBen DiNucci #6 of the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos’ work on their roster is far from complete, even when it comes to moves that bolster their depth more than the front lines.
“Most likely won’t be the last guys they sign to futures deals. Just what’s official today,” The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel posted on X on January 26. “Source said Jaden Robinson, in particular, is a possibility to be signed. Just wasn’t by the wire today.”
Others have left the Broncos in a bit of a holding pattern.
“Source said #Broncos have offered WR Michael Bandy a futures contract but he’s weighing possible offers from at least two other teams before he might commit to Denver,” The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reported on X on Monday. “Denver’s practice squad players become street free agents next Monday if they don’t sign with Broncos this week.”
Bandy, who has been with the Broncos since 2023, began his career as a UDFA in 2021 with Denver’s AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Broncos have also chosen to go in different directions in some instances.
“It doesn’t appear the #Broncos will be offering quarterback Ben DiNucci a futures deal,” Tomasson reported in another post on Monday. “He joined the team for the past week as the No. 3 quarterback after Bo Nix’s injury.”
With Nix recovering from injury and Sam Ehlinger headed for free agency, Jarrett Stidham is the Broncos’ only healthy QB under contract, which matters less at this stage.
Ehlinger wants to return, but that could still open a roster spot for DiNucci on the Broncos.
Broncos Still Have Players in Limbo
GettyMarcedes Lewis #84 of the Chicago Bears looks on against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Broncos also had defensive back Tanner McCalister, offensive lineman Geron Christian, tight ends Marces Lewis and Patrick Murtaugh, and wide receivers A.T. Perry, Brandon Johnson, Elijah Moore, and Kyrese Rowan on their practice squad roster.
All of those players remain unsigned as of Monday, but they could make up the Broncos’ next wave of moves.
That is, if any more occur before the offseason officially begins.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
More Heavy on Broncos
Loading more stories