The Denver Broncos are making waves in the NFL, and head coach Sean Payton is doubling down on a critical but often overlooked aspect of the game: special teams. Payton recently revealed to reporters that bolstering this “third side of the ball” was a top priority in free agency, leading to the high-profile signings of wide receiver Trent Sherfield and safety Sam Franklin. Both players are expected to play pivotal roles under new special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, a move that has sparked excitement among fans and analysts alike.
Payton didn’t mince words when explaining the team’s focus. “After the 2023 season, one quick way to improve your team—we were near the bottom of the league in 2022 in special teams,” he said on Thursday. “So very quickly [during] the last two years, it’s been the opposite. That emphasis—it’s easy to say, ‘We want to get better in the kicking game,’ but you have to commit to that.” Payton, who previously worked with Rizzi, emphasized that special teams will remain a cornerstone of the Broncos’ strategy.
Trent Sherfield: The Elite Run-Blocker and Special Teams Ace
Trent Sherfield, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Broncos on March 11, brings a unique skill set to the team. The undrafted 2018 free agent, now on his sixth NFL team, may have only 86 career receptions, but his value lies elsewhere. Sherfield has established himself as an elite run-blocker on the perimeter and a core special-teamer. Last season, he appeared in all 17 games for the Minnesota Vikings, showcasing his reliability and versatility. His addition signals Denver’s commitment to building a robust special teams unit while adding depth to their receiving corps.
Sam Franklin: The Special Teams Dynamo with a Pick-Six Flair
Safety Sam Franklin, another undrafted gem from 2020, joined the Broncos on a one-year, $1.17 million deal, reportedly fending off interest from 17 other teams. Franklin spent his first five seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he racked up 105 tackles and a memorable 99-yard pick-six. However, his bread-and-butter has been special teams, logging 1,327 of his 2,109 career snaps in that phase of the game. Franklin’s signing is a coup for the Broncos, who are banking on his experience and tenacity to elevate their special teams to elite status.
Que Robinson: The Draft Pick Built for Special Teams
The Broncos didn’t stop at free agency. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they selected former Alabama linebacker Que Robinson in the fourth round, a pick driven largely by his special teams prowess. Former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban praised Robinson as one of the best special-teamers in Alabama’s history, a glowing endorsement that caught the attention of Broncos general manager George Paton.
This is why Trent Sherfield plays pic.twitter.com/Zi2Dr2ztG4
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 1, 2024
“We’ve been seeing flashes of him the last four years at Alabama, really the last two on defense,” Paton said on April 26. “But you look throughout his career, just the special team plays. I think he had 16, especially in tackles, in the last two years. You see the athletic traits, the athletic ability, the length, the speed, the way he plays, the motor he plays with.” Despite playing behind stars like Will Anderson and Dallas Turner at Alabama, Robinson’s relentless energy and special teams production made him an attractive pick. Even with a recent injury, his potential as a “hardcore special-teamer” is undeniable.
A New Era for Broncos Special Teams
The trio of Sherfield, Franklin, and Robinson is poised to fill the void left by the departure of core special-teamer Tremon Smith. With these strategic additions, the Broncos are well-positioned to maintain or even improve their standing among the NFL’s top special teams units in the upcoming season. Payton’s emphasis on this often-ignored phase of the game, combined with Rizzi’s expertise, could be the X-factor that propels Denver to new heights in 2025.
The Broncos’ aggressive moves in free agency and the draft have sent a clear message: special teams are no longer an afterthought in Denver. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Sherfield, Franklin, and Robinson to see if they can deliver on the promise of transforming the Broncos into a special teams powerhouse.