Agent Clears Air on Broncos Pass Rusher John Franklin-Myers' Absence from OTAs

OTAs (organized team activities), which provide players with valuable opportunities to build chemistry before training camp begins later in the summer, are voluntary in nature. Because of this, most teams deal with absences from these optional practices, with some being more notable than others.

This was the case with Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers, who did not report to the team's first week of activities at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit.

Veteran players sometimes hold out of OTAs in hopes of gaining leverage in negotiations for new contracts; Franklin-Myers' social posts earlier in the offseason about his desire for one hinted at a possible rationale for his nonappearance.

Cliff Brady, Franklin-Myers' agent, made it clear that financial compensation was not the reasoning behind his client's decision to skip OTAs.

"JFM hasn’t been to OTAs for a few years now. No contract issues. He’ll be there for mini-camp," Brady told 9News' Mike Klis. "He’s currently working his [expletive] off to have the best season of his career.”

Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers (98) reacts to a defensive stop in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High.

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Franklin-Myers is coming off a career year with the Broncos, his first with the team. He logged career highs in tackles (40), tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (seven), while recording 18 quarterback hits, just two short of his career high in that statistic.

Prior to joining the Broncos via a trade, Franklin-Myers spent time with the New York Jets (2019-2023) and Los Angeles Rams (2018). He has shown remarkable durability over the course of his professional football career, playing 17 games each of the last three seasons and only missing two games since 2019. Franklin-Myers has been credited with 175 tackles and 26.5 sacks in the NFL.

Franklin-Myers, a fourth-round (No. 135 overall) selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, previously played football at Stephen F. Austin State University and Greenville High School in Hunt County, Texas.