The Denver Broncos linebacker position has more competition behind it than they did last year, even if their two starters are already solidified.
Denver Broncos Linebacker Training Camp Preview
After Dre Greenlaw’s brief stint in Denver didn’t work out, the team is doubling down on system and veteran leadership at the linebacker position with Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton returning in free agency. Both of these guys will start at linebacker this season for Denver, and it will give us our first look at a full season with Strnad getting the nod.
Last season, Strnad was easily Denver’s best linebacker, and he earned the right to be the starter in 2026 and going forward. Behind him and Singleton, there is wide open competition.
The Broncos have typically carried five off-ball linebackers on their 53-man roster, and I wouldn’t expect that to change this season.
Let’s take a look at the five players who will be competing for those three spots.
Five Broncos competing for three spots on the active roster
The Denver Broncos final selection of the 2026 NFL Draft was Red Murdock, who became this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, but there is nothing irrelevant about Murdock from what we’ve seen during the offseason program.
He played fast and instinctively in the practice sessions we were able to watch during the summer, and when the pads come on in early August, he’ll be someone to keep an eye on. If he translates the things we saw in the offseason program into the physical and padded practices, where he’ll engage with offensive linemen in the run game then Broncos Country should be excited.
I believe the vision for him could be as a starter in two seasons for this defense.
Vance Joseph entrusts Murdock with getting the defense lined up when he calls the play in, and that was evident beginning in rookie minicamp.
Undrafted rookie linebacker Taurean York has a great opportunity to become the next undrafted player to make Denver’s active roster. Despite being undersized in the eyes of the NFL Draft community, York’s a former team captain and green dot guy for a Texas A&M defense that was one of the best groups in college football last season, and he was the heartbeat of their mentality.
He rotated in quite a bit with Murdock throughout the offseason program, and the two of them appear to have a good feel for one another. Both communicate well when playing alongside each other, and they’ll get plenty of run together during training camp and the preseason.
Jordan Turner was a standout last offseason during rookie minicamp and earned himself a training camp invite. From there, he impressed in the preseason, and coming into this year’s training camp, he looks bigger and faster. He appeared in seven games for the Broncos last season, down the stretch, and played 114 special teams snaps (64%). He looks like a player who can emerge as a core four specialist and compete for that LB3 role.
Karene Reid and Levelle Bailey both return this summer as two players who have made the active roster, Bailey in 2024 and Reid last season. Bailey has the most experience inside of Joseph’s scheme, and training camp will be a huge step for him to make his case for a spot on the roster. Reid made it last season after having an impressive preseason campaign.
My prediction is that the Broncos will ultimately keep five: Justin Strnad, Alex Singleton, Red Murdock, Jordan Turner, and Taurean York on the active roster, but Bailey is the wildcard name to keep an eye on.
