The Denver Broncos faced a tough loss when star center Lloyd Cushenberry departed in free agency after the 2023 season, signing a lucrative 4-year, $50 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.
The cap-strapped Broncos, burdened by $85 million in dead cap space across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, were unable to retain all their key players during the offseason. Unfortunately, Lloyd Cushenberry’s departure was one of the casualties of these financial constraints.
Despite this, Denver’s outlook is promising, led by rookie sensation quarterback Bo Nix and a solid core built for sustained success. This commitment to the future was underscored by two major moves before the 2024 season: a 4-year, $72 million contract extension for Quinn Meinerz and a 4-year, $96 million extension for NFL All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes the Broncos could address their roster needs by targeting Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman in 2025 free agency as a replacement for Lloyd Cushenberry.
Dalman has been limited to just four games in 2024, starting the first three before suffering an ankle injury and returning for a Week 11 loss against the Broncos.
“Drew Dalman will have to be considered if the Broncos are interested in upgrading the position,” Ballentine wrote. “He has gone through his own growing pains and now has to be considered an asset for the Falcons offensive line. He has missed all but (four) games this year due to injury, but he’s only 26 and just hitting his prime.”
Calculating What Dalman Might Cost in Free Agency
Drew Dalman earned a spot on Heavy.com’s Daniel Arwas list of “10 NFL Players Who Deserve to Get Paid in 2025,” ranking No. 4 overall and as the highest-rated offensive lineman featured.
“Drew Dalman has quietly become one of the top centers in the game over the past couple of years, grading out with a fantastic 78.9 PFF grade in 2024,” Arwas wrote on November 8. “With his rookie contract up in 2025, barring injury or a tragic event, Dalman can almost start counting his cash.”
Drew Dalman entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (No. 114 overall) by the Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft after earning two All-Pac-12 selections during his time at Stanford. He played all 17 games as a rookie backup before taking over as Atlanta’s full-time starting center in 2022. Dalman is also part of a football legacy, as his father, Chris Dalman, was an All-Pac-12 offensive lineman at Stanford who went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers from 1993 to 2000, winning a Super Bowl in 1994.
What it might cost the Broncos to sign Dalman is uncertain. According to Over the Cap, the top five highest-paid centers currently average $57 million in contract value, while the next five average $22 million.
One starting point for the Broncos might be the 3-year, $30 million contract signed by Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz in March 2024.
Wattenberg Hasn’t Made Most of Opportunity
Lloyd Cushenberry’s replacement, Luke Wattenberg, has started eight games for the Broncos in 2024, missing four due to an ankle injury. However, his performance has been underwhelming so far.
Meanwhile, Drew Dalman holds a 61.4 grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) for the 2024 season. While he hasn’t allowed any sacks, he has been flagged for four penalties.
“(The Broncos) have to go to work this offseason to make sure Nix has everything he needs to succeed,” Ballentine wrote. “That could involve a change at the pivot where Luke Wattenberg just hasn’t secured the job.”
