Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga inked a massive three-year deal worth up to $45 million, with $20 million guaranteed, in 2025 free agency, but league coaches, executives, and scouts aren’t exactly lining up to praise the big-money signing. ESPN’s @JFowlerESPN reported that Hufanga and fellow safety Brandon Jones checked in around 20th and 21st best in the NFL, placing them squarely in the “also receiving votes” category and well outside the top ten. It’s wild, right? You get paid like a top guy, but the league still isn’t fully buying in.
Hufanga’s Comeback Season Was No Joke
After battling injuries in 2023 and 2024 that limited his on-field impact, Hufanga, a former All-Pro and Pro-Bowl player in 2022 with the San Francisco 49ers, had a seriously productive first year in Denver. The 27-year-old stayed healthy all season, starting all 17 games, which was huge. He piled up 106 tackles, a career-high, and racked up 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 11 pass deflections. That tackle number was second only to linebacker Alex Singleton on the Broncos’ defense. His coverage in ’25 was fundamentally sound, too, allowing just 60 percent of passes thrown his way to be completed, the second-best mark of his career, and only giving up three touchdowns through the air. The dude brings that fiery, aggressive temperament and tone-setting hits to Vance Joseph’s defense.
What’s Next for Hufanga and the Broncos Secondary
Heading into his sixth year in the league, Hufanga is slated to start opposite Brandon Jones again for the Broncos. While most pundits keep ranking this duo outside the top ten, it is a diverse and consistent pairing. The numbers from last season show Hufanga playing at a high level, especially considering his injury history. So, why the low league ranking? It could be about consistency over multiple seasons, but his 2025 output proves he’s got the goods. One clear area where Hufanga can crank things up for 2026 is generating turnovers. Despite a career-high 11 pass deflections, he did not snag a single interception last season, reportedly dropping nearly half a dozen chances. Imagine the impact if he converts those into picks!
The Broncos are clearly banking on Hufanga having an even larger impact this season. If he can turn those pass deflections into turnovers, that $45 million contract might start looking like a steal to everyone else in the league, not just the Broncos faithful. We’ll be watching to see if he elevates that secondary when the season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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