
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
The Denver Broncos are taking a quality-over-quantity approach in the 2026 NFL free agency, highlighted by a blockbuster trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. This contrasts with the New York Jets' strategy of signing multiple veterans to revamp their roster.
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At the start of 2026 NFL free agency, there were a lot of teams that spent a lot of money to address various needs inside franchise walls. However, there were two teams that had diametrically opposing views on how to approach this year's "frenzy," a term that Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton doesn't like associated with free agency.
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks recently compared the offseason moves of the Broncos and the New York Jets, because each approach was radically different. Brooks described the Jets' offseason as a "total makeover." The Jets went out and signed veteran locker room builders (Geno Smith, Minkah Fitzpatrick) to hopefully turn around a franchise that has not seen mid-January in 15 years, the longest such drought in any major sport. By bringing in players who have seen prolonged success, both personally and as a team, the Jets are looking to build a core of winners.
From the Broncos' 5,280-foot view, Brooks proclaimed the strategy "quality over quantity." After a quiet start to free agency, where general manager George Paton re-signed several in-house role players, the first big splash came when Denver executed a blockbuster trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
"Denver had to surrender valuable draft currency (the 30th overall pick this year, plus a third- and fourth-rounder)Ā Ā and a 2026 fourth-round pick," . "But the team clearly preferred an established veteran over an unknown rookie. With three 1,000-yard seasons and 26 career touchdowns under his belt, Waddle is exactly the kind of player who can take the ' offense to the next level. 'We could safely say that pick (No. 30 overall) would've been one of these seven or eight players,' said Sean Payton of the trade. 'We didn't feel like that would help us as much as Jaylen Waddle.'"
The Broncos focused on quality over quantity, opting to trade for established players like Jaylen Waddle instead of signing multiple free agents.
The Broncos traded the 30th overall pick, along with a third- and fourth-round pick, to acquire Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins.
While the Broncos prioritized acquiring a few high-quality veterans, the Jets pursued a total roster makeover by signing several veteran players to enhance their team culture.

Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
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Standing pat while teams spent money all around them only made the team more cohesive, Brooks argued. It also made them stronger for a deep playoff run. "With offensive and defensive holdovers sticking around to ensure the Broncos pick up where they left off in 2025, they could make a run at repeating as the AFC's No. 1 seed this season," Brooks said.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Bucky Brooks gives his take on free agency approach