The Broncos should Target with their Walmart money NFL free agents from Sean Payton’s and George Paton’s favorite former friends — the Saints and the Vikings — and the franchise’s most abhorrent antagonists — the Chiefs and the Raiders.

Negotiations with agents can begin in just 15 days, and the Broncos could announce signings of players March 12. Two years ago, the team under CEO Greg Penner and the wealthiest ownership group in the league went on a $235 million spending spree for unrestricted free agents but, in 2024, the franchise was more crash-cash poor because of the $85 million dead-cap hit with the release of a quarterback.

However, after the NFL’s announcement in the past week of a projected salary cap increase to $277.5 million-$281.5 million for the 2025 season, the Broncos now are in the middle of the pack with $37 mil of available hard currency — despite $32 million still on the dead-cap book for You Know Who.

The Broncos are able to acquire gems from the 300-plus shiny new objects. The crown jewels could include a Jones and a Johnson, maybe a Bolton or a Spillane.

The wish list is for a veteran tight end and another at running back, a safety and a cornerback, an inside linebacker and a wide receiver. Even as I write, the Broncos’ brass is plotting and planning, considering and calculating, rating and ranking, before traveling to Indianapolis for the annual NFL Combine’s college cluster muck this week.

To begin with, everyone is aware that Payton loves him some Saints. Dove Valley is filled with previous New Orleans coaches, players and staffers.

NOLA is first in fun and food and last in choosing a head coach and suffering salary cap squeeze. And the Saints stare at 19 free agents and several other veterans they will have to cut. Payton, Paton and Penner patiently await.

Juwan Johnson, a wide receiver at Penn State and Oregon, was undrafted in 2020, but Payton signed him as a free agent and converted the 6-foot-4, 231-pounder to tight end in his second season. Since, he has produced 146 receptions for 1,622 yards and 18 touchdowns and had his best season in ’24 (50-548-3).

He understands the Payton system. The Broncos should show interest in other free agents who have been Saints — cornerback Paulson Adebo, offensive tackle Landon Young, safety Will Harris, linebacker Kaden Eliss (whose brother Noah was drafted by and plays for the Broncos) and quarterback Jameis Winston, who was a reserve quarterback for Sean.

Taysom Hill could become a contract casualty and sign with the Broncos as a tight end, wide receiver, running back, quarterback and eventual assistant.

How about a starting running back from the Vikings, for whom Paton was assistant GM? Aaron Jones is a free agent after signing a one-year, $7 million contract last season. He returned the reward in Minnesota by starting 17 games, rushing 255 times for 1,138 yards, and catching 51 passes for 408 yards.

John Elway and Peyton Manning attracted players to Denver. Bo Nix will be in that mix after his rookie season. Johnson and Jones would enjoy being in the Broncos offense for the right price.

Nick Bolton would be a two-fer for the Broncos. Not only would he provide the Broncos instant relief at inside linebacker, but the 5-11, 237-pound free agent no longer would be performing against them twice a season for the Chiefs.

If Kansas City decides to apply the franchise tag on Bolton, drafted in the second round in ’21, they must pay him an NFL linebacker high $25.6 million in ’25. The Broncos were once there with Von Miller. Bolton received $3.1 mil in ’24 with 16 starts (and was held out of the final regular-season game against the Broncos).

The Chiefs also had five wide receivers who have become free agents.

And lest we forget, the Raiders could be missing 17 free agents. The Broncos can raid Las Vegas and steal inside linebacker Robert Spillane, safety Tre’Von Moehrig or defensive end Malcolm Koonce, who sat out last season with a knee injury after eight sacks the year before.

Of course, the Broncos are deliberating free agents from a majority of the other teams, too. Including the Chargers, but they also will concentrate on their own 13 unrestricted free agents (especially D.J. Jones).

The Broncos must get out their checkbook soon.

Woody Paige has been a sports and general columnist in Colorado with the Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, The Colorado Springs Gazette and The Denver Gazette since 1974. He has been a commentator for the ESPN network on six different shows for 20 years.