Sean Payton indicates Broncos plan to keep CB Ja’Quan McMillian long term with a second-round restricted free agent tender

The Denver Broncos have made their stance on cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian unmistakable during the offseason, using a second-round tender on him as a restricted free agent. That approach indicates the club expects him to remain in the building and is a practical way to apply leverage while contract talks play out, even though restricted free agency always carries a possibility of movement.

NBC Sports reported that McMillian’s tender will carry a one-year value of $5.767 million for the 2026 season. The tender matters because it gives Denver a defined baseline for salary while also protecting the team’s interests if another club makes an offer that forces the Broncos to match or let the player leave.

At OTAs, head coach Sean Payton addressed McMillian’s future in a way that went beyond procedure. According to NBC Sports’ reporting, Payton said “Absolutely” when asked about keeping the player, and he framed McMillian’s impact as more than coincidence, describing how the ball seems to find him while he competes aggressively across routes and in situational coverage.

Payton’s comments also aligned with the profile Denver has built for McMillian on the field. Since 2023, NBC Sports reported that McMillian has recorded six interceptions, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The same report added that two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, along with seven sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits, suggesting a defender who can create turnover moments and apply pressure from the secondary.

Contract-year uncertainty is part of the backdrop. NBC Sports noted that McMillian’s long-term outlook had appeared in question as other high-profile Broncos players approached the final year of their deals, a reminder that even teams that value a player must weigh timing, cap management, and the broader roster picture.

The most immediate thing to watch is whether Denver’s tender produces continuity or simply postpones a larger decision. If McMillian and the Broncos can align on a longer-term agreement, it would lock in one of their more playmaking defensive pieces for the years after 2026. If not, the tender sets the terms for what Denver would need to do if another team tries to create leverage in restricted free agency.

For Broncos fans, this is a report about the kind of defensive identity the team wants to maintain. McMillian’s mix of interceptions, forced fumbles, and disruptive impact has been part of how Denver measures success in the secondary, and Payton’s tone suggests the organization believes that skill set belongs in its long-term plan.