​The Broncos may have the answer to a major question in the form of a surprising breakout candidate, as predicted originally by The Sporting News. For readers who want to see the source in context, click here to add The Sporting News as a preferred source. The Denver Broncos did manage to retain nearly all of last season’s roster who could have pursued free agency, with the notable exception of John Franklin-Myers. Franklin-Myers was a disruptive influence on the Broncos’ defense, and it appeared last season that his departure was almost inevitable once the team handed extensions to several other players while he did not receive one. In the end, his price tag proved too steep for Denver, and he signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent this offseason.
This has sparked ongoing questions about whether the Broncos have adequately filled the gap Franklin-Myers left behind. The team even invested early in the 2026 draft, using their first pick (a third-round selection) on Tyler Onyedim out of Texas A&M. Yet the fundamental question remains: who can adequately replace Franklin-Myers? One recently publicized answer comes from ESPN analyst Ben Solak, who, while identifying potential breakout players for all 32 NFL teams, highlighted Eyioma Uwazurike as a strong candidate to step up for Denver.
Solak praised Franklin-Myers as a versatile force who could line up as a big end or an undersized three-technique, noting that Denver’s defensive front would need to compensate through a rotation rather than a single one-for-one replacement. Of the Broncos’ rotational players who impressed last season, Solak emphasized Uwazurike as the first to garner additional snaps. Uwazurike delivered a notable resurgence in 2025 after missing the 2023 season due to a gambling-related suspension, which had disrupted his development. The analyst described Uwazurike as more of a true defensive tackle than Franklin-Myers, possessing a menacing bull rush and a relentless motor that enables him to create contributions in crowded, messy pockets. Such traits align with the kind of “dirty work” that once made Franklin-Myers an indispensable part of Denver’s rotation, and Solak suggested that Uwazurike could be relied upon to fill a similar role.
Uwazurike’s journey began when Denver selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. Although the suspension in 2023 impeded his progress, he rebounded last season, recording 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks across 17 games—the first full-season usage of his NFL career. With an expanded opportunity, Uwazurike’s trajectory suggests he could have a meaningful impact for Denver in the upcoming season.
In summary, while replacing a player of Franklin-Myers’ versatility and production would require a collective effort, the case for Uwazurike as a rising contributor is compelling. His blend of power, motor, and practical fit for a heavy-rotation defensive line could enable him to assume a larger share of snaps and potentially become a cornerstone piece for Denver’s front in the new season. This assessment, echoed by Solak, adds an intriguing angle to the ongoing discussion about how the Broncos will reconstitute their defensive front after Franklin-Myers’ departure.