Denver Broncos sign Dondrea Tillman

Dondrea Tillman's one-year, $1.075M AAV deal with Denver earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a fair but unremarkable signing that reads as classic depth-roster management rather than a meaningful roster upgrade. At just above the veteran minimum threshold, the contract carries virtually no financial risk for a Broncos organization whose CVI has been trending upward over the past month, suggesting the front office is making increasingly efficient allocation decisions overall — and this deal fits that pattern as a low-downside addition. The position data on Tillman is incomplete enough that projecting a clear role is difficult, but at this price point the expectation is linebacker depth and special teams utility, not a starter-level contribution. The single-year structure is the right call regardless of what Tillman brings to camp — it gives Denver a clean exit while Tillman gets a shot to prove himself before the regular season opens in 142 days. The CVI lands where it does because this is neither a steal nor an overpay; it's a slot-filler signing that costs almost nothing but also doesn't move the needle on the roster in any meaningful way. With the Broncos sitting at 14-3 and holding the AFC's top seed, the calculus here is simple: add low-cost options, keep the cap clean, and let competition sort out the 53-man picture.