Broncos general manager George Paton said retaining linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad is a priority ahead of the free agency negotiation window opening March 9. “If we let those guys leave, what are we doing?” Paton said. “Those are good guys, but that doesn’t mean we can get them. Everyone is watching tape. You look at both [free agents and draft prospects].”

Singleton started 16 games and Strnad started eight last season, and both played significant roles in Denver’s defensive structure. The complication is Strnad’s desire for a starting role, which is difficult to guarantee with Dre Greenlaw also on the roster. The Broncos cannot offer starting positions to all three linebackers, and if Strnad does not receive assurances about his role, he could test the open market when free agency officially begins March 11.

The three-linebacker dynamic creates a roster puzzle that goes beyond money. Singleton’s 16 starts make him the entrenched option, and Greenlaw’s presence gives Denver a third player who expects meaningful snaps. Strnad performed well enough in his eight starts to justify wanting a larger role, but the Broncos would need to either reduce Greenlaw’s involvement or run enough three-linebacker packages to keep all three on the field — neither of which may align with the defensive scheme.

If Denver cannot sign Singleton and Strnad before the negotiation window opens, both players will hear from other teams immediately. The two-day gap between the negotiation window on March 9 and the official start of free agency on March 11 gives the Broncos a narrow window to finalize deals before competing offers arrive.

Paton’s acknowledgment that “everyone is watching tape” on both players signals he understands other teams value them as well.

The Broncos hold seven picks in the 2026 draft, including the 30th overall, and are expected to receive additional compensatory selections. The draft carries extra weight for Paton, who is entering the final year of his contract. Owner Greg Penner has said he wants Paton and head coach Sean Payton to remain long-term, with contract discussions expected to intensify after the draft.

The linebacker class in this draft is deep enough that Denver could address the position through the first few rounds if Singleton or Strnad leave in free agency. That depth gives Paton some leverage in negotiations — the Broncos want both players back, but they are not without alternatives if the price or role demands exceed what the roster can accommodate.

How Paton balances the retention of proven contributors against the cost of replacing them with younger, cheaper draft picks will shape both the 2026 roster and his own standing within the organization heading into what could be a contract year for the GM as much as for the players he is trying to re-sign.