Anyone with a pocket full of millions can sign a star player.

It’s when the team is on a relatively tight budget that a general manager like John Elway can show why he’s paid the big bucks.

Although it appears the most formidable names in Broncos free agency this season will be players leaving Dove Valley, the team is pursuing solid veterans such as defensive lineman Kendall Langford.

He played the past four seasons with the St. Louis Rams. Langford, 29, is also scheduled to visit with the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.

A third-round draft pick out of Hampton University by the Miami Dolphins in 2008, Langford four years later became a prized free agent who signed a four-year, $22 million deal with the Rams. He was paid $16 million through the first three years of that deal before he was released last week.

The 6-foot-6, 313-pound Langford is a defensive tackle in the 4-3 but would fit as a five-technique defensive end in the Broncos’ new 3-4 defensive scheme.

As for the Broncos’ own free-agent players, most of the bigger names are moving on as expected, although the team is monitoring the market on safety Rahim Moore.

Tight end Julius Thomas, though, is working out contract details with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to an NFL source. The deal is not done, although it may simply be waiting on the market to officially open at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Thomas was expected to get a five-year contract worth close to $9 million per year.

Thomas, who caught 24 touchdown passes the previous two seasons for the Broncos, is in position to join former Broncos teammate Zane Beadles in Jacksonville, which had more than $64 million in salary cap room to use this year.

Broncos left guard Orlando Franklin appears to be headed for the rival San Diego Chargers ($26.3 million in cap space) and coach Mike McCoy, who was Franklin’s offensive coordinator in Denver from 2011-12. An NFL source said the deal with the Chargers is done. Franklin’s contract, when he signs it on Tuesday, will be worth $7.2 million per year with $14 million guaranteed.

The Philadelphia Eagles ($44.8 million in cap space) were also pursing Franklin, but they may have dropped out after reaching an agreement with former Seattle No. 2 cornerback Byron Maxwell on a multiyear deal worth $10.5 million per year.

The Denver Post reported Broncos defensive tackle Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton is generating serious interest from multiple teams, with Washington ($24.5 million in cap room) the most aggressive pursuer.

The Oakland Raiders ($59.6 million in cap space), now coached by former Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio; the Chicago Bears ($28.6 million), now coached by former Broncos’ head coach John Fox and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers; and the Indianapolis Colts ($38.1 million) have also expressed interest in Knighton.

The Broncos have not made a move to re-sign Knighton.

Each of those aforementioned teams in pursuit of Broncos free agents have significantly more cap room than Denver’s $19.5 million.

The Broncos haven’t completely given up on re-signing Moore, although he is drawing solid interest from multiple teams. He is considered the second-best safety in the free-agent market, behind only New England’s Devin McCourty, who reportedly received a $9.5 million a year deal to stay with the Patriots.

Now that McCourty is done, teams osing out on him may now turn turn to Moore.

Just because the Broncos may not be making the big-splash signing in free agency this year doesn’t mean they can’t improve their roster talent. It will just take some keen scouting work by Elway’s personnel department to find hidden gems like linebacker Brandon Marshall and running back C.J. Anderson.

Marshall was cut three times by the lowly Jaguars before emerging as a Broncos starter last season. Anderson was a backup running back at Cal who signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent two years ago, then became their star running back in the second half of last season.

Most of the free-agent flurry this weekend involved Jacksonville, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Miami, the New York Jets, San Diego and Oakland — teams that have gobs of salary cap room.

Little if any free-agent news has come out of Denver, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Arizona, Cincinnati or Baltimore.

Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis