Frank Crum

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Broncos struck gold with this Frank Crum deal, landing an A CVI that represents exceptional value in today's inflated tackle market. At just $1.0M per year, Denver is paying backup money for a depth piece who can step in when needed — a critical asset given the Broncos' recent offensive line struggles and Sean Payton's emphasis on protecting his quarterback. The three-year term provides roster stability without major financial risk, while the minimal $0.3M guaranteed suggests Denver can move on cleanly if Crum doesn't develop as expected. For a team still building toward contention, finding quality depth at below-market rates is exactly the type of shrewd roster construction that creates salary cap flexibility for bigger moves. This is the kind of under-the-radar signing that championship teams make — securing solid contributors at positions where one injury can derail an entire season, all while barely moving the financial needle.

Performance Analysis

Frank Crum is a second-year offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos who has appeared in 17 career games, placing him squarely in the developing player tier where consistency and availability remain the foundational benchmarks of his professional trajectory. At 25 years old, Crum is still in the early stages of earning the trust that NFL coaching staffs extend only to linemen who demonstrate they can be counted on week in and week out across a full season. His durability profile is limited, and with just 17 games of evidence, the sample size makes it difficult to project him with confidence as a reliable starting option at the position. On the field, Crum has graded out at a D- level, a mark that reflects the developmental growing pains common to young tackles but one that nonetheless signals significant areas in need of improvement — whether in pass protection technique, run-blocking assignment execution, or both. The Broncos will need to determine in the coming season whether he is best deployed as a swing reserve who provides emergency depth or whether his physical tools merit a more sustained opportunity to develop into a legitimate roster contributor. What to watch going forward is whether Crum can string together a healthy, full campaign that pushes his games-played total meaningfully higher, because at this position, availability is the first question every evaluator asks — and right now, that question remains largely unanswered.

Current Sentiment

Frank Crum has captured the NFL media's imagination in a way that few depth offensive linemen ever do, earning a **B grade** from our Contract Value Index (CVI) sentiment analysis heading into 2026. The Denver Broncos tackle became a viral sensation after hauling in a touchdown reception against the Buffalo Bills, a play that generated widespread positive coverage across major outlets and social platforms well beyond what his roster status would typically command. Media framing has been consistently warm and celebratory, with narratives focusing on his unexpected athleticism and his emerging role as a feel-good story within the Bo Nix era in Denver. While Crum remains a depth player without the statistical resume of an established starter, the cultural moment he created has given him a recognizable public identity that translates to genuine fan goodwill and roster security. His viral touchdown has essentially elevated his media presence from invisible to memorable, positioning him as one of the more endearing storylines surrounding the Broncos as they head into the new season.