A lot of teams have improved early in NFL free agency.
But one stood out more than the rest for former NFL quarterback and FOX Sports analyst Chase Daniel.
Daniel Picks Denver Broncos as Most Improved NFL Team After NFL Free Agency
The Denver Broncos entered the league’s legal tampering period ranked just 19th in salary cap space. But the moves the Broncos made still left Daniel impressed.
The Broncos added two San Francisco 49ers defensive starters, including former All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga. Denver also signed veteran tight end Evan Engram.
Daniel argued on the March 17 episode of FS1’s The Facility that the moves were exactly what the Broncos needed to do.
“Bo Nix played a lot better than a lot of people thought, ok. So what do you do? You go out and you build a defense around him. A defense is a quarterback’s best friend. You go out and get [Talanoa] Hufanga, you go out and get Dre Greenlaw. This defense was already ranked third last season, and you go make them better,” said Daniel.
“The sneakiest, one of the most sneakiest signings, I think right now, Evan Engram, tight end. And I had a front row seat for Sean Payton, Jimmy Graham, that whole era in New Orleans. Sean Payton knows how to use a tight end better than anyone I’ve ever seen. I know Evan Engram is 30. [But] he still has some tread left on those tires. I’m really excited to see how this Broncos team goes out there and faces the AFC West with the Chiefs.”
.@ChaseDaniel puts the Broncos as the top team who improved this offseason 👀 pic.twitter.com/wYfOCQqjqy
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) March 17, 2025
Tight end was considered one of the weaker position groups before the start of free agency. But Engram was one of the top players available at the position.
Engram made the Pro Bowl for the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2020 and 2023 seasons, respectively. In 2023, Engram posted a career-high 114 receptions for 963 yards.
The veteran tight end dealt with multiple injuries during the 2024 campaign. Engram played in only nine games and averaged a career-low 7.8 yards per catch. He finished with 47 receptions, 365 yards and one touchdown overall.
But Daniel clearly still sees Engram as a top tight end threat under Sean Payton.
Jimmy Graham was younger when he played for Payton. But under Payton for five seasons, Graham made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams, including first-team All-Pro with a 1,215-yard season in 2013.
Broncos Signed Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw
Denver also spent more than $75 million on the two defenders who’ve previously started for the 49ers — Hufanga and Greelaw.
Hufanga made first-team All-Pro with 97 combined tackles, including five tackles for loss, and nine pass defenses, including four interceptions, in 2022. He returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown.
Hufanga also had three quarterback hits and two forced fumbles during 2022.
Over the past two years, Hufanga has been in and out of the lineup because of injuries. In 2024, Hufanga had 38 combined tackles, including two tackles for loss, in seven games.
If healthy, though, the Broncos hope he can return to one of the best at his position.
Greenlaw has never made the All-Pro team or Pro Bowl. But he was always a solid contributor on an elite San Francisco defense. In both 2022 and 2023, Greenlaw posted 120 combined tackles or more.
Like Hufanga, Greenlaw missed most of 2024 because of a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the Super Bowl the previous February. Greenlaw returned for two games in December before suffering a calf injury.
Assuming all three players are healthy, they should be significant contributors for the Broncos in 2025.