Denver Broncos sign DE Garrett Nelson

Denver's signing of Garrett Nelson at $885K represents a classic depth move that earns a B– Contract Value Index (CVI) — solid value for a reserve pass rusher on a veteran minimum-adjacent deal, but without the upside juice that would push it higher. At $885K for what appears to be a one-year agreement, the Broncos are paying replacement-level salary for a defensive end, which is exactly the price point you'd expect for a camp invite or practice-squad-adjacent roster addition on a 14-win AFC West leader sitting at the #1 seed heading into the regular season. The CVI grade reflects modest salary efficiency here: the contract carries virtually no guaranteed money risk and no long-term cap commitment, meaning the front office can cut Nelson without consequence if he doesn't stick through camp or the preseason ramp. For a team already heavy on playoff equity with a proven roster core, this is the kind of low-risk, high-flexibility signing that fills out the defensive line rotation without tying up meaningful resources — the move is defensible on paper but pedestrian in execution. Nelson's lack of proven production at an elite level keeps this from grading higher; the Broncos are betting on developmental potential or a late-career bounce-back at a price point that suggests they're hedging against both scenarios.