The Denver Broncos haven’t shied away from adding depth to a position of value, and they added even more with their third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Denver Broncos add Utah pass rusher Jonah Elliss

A lot of people have tended to look down on Pac-12 talent, but you can’t deny that the narrative has become overplayed. The Pac-12 has produced some high-level elite talent, and the University of Utah has been one of those programs that have fed into the NFL.

The Denver Broncos added Utah pass rusher Jonah Elliss to their roster with the 76th overall pick in the third round. Elliss has a high motor and is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback.

In 2023, Elliss went on a tear from a production standpoint. While playing just 10 games last season, he had 37 total tackles, with an astonishing 16 tackles for a loss behind the line of scrimmage and 12 sacks, according to Pro Football Reference.

What’s even more impressive is that Elliss had an elite stretch last year, coming up with eight sacks and 11 tackles for a loss in a four-game stretch last year.

“I feel like my effort is elite when it comes to the game, but I think that is just how I was raised,” Elliss said in a conference call. “I think I’m a great pass rusher in the back formation as well. Somewhere I need to grow is just protecting the little things, the little techniques, and switching that through my run game.”

The Broncos adding him into the mix alongside Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, and Drew Sanders is something to monitor. Both Browning and Cooper are in contract years this upcoming season and Bonitto’s ascent in 2023 has the team excited.

“You start with one spot for a rookie player,” Payton said following Friday night’s Day 2. “We do like the versatility. We think there is upside and growth potential. When you’re looking at the draft, there are certain positions where all of the sudden if you start projecting, ‘How does tomorrow look? The next day look?’ A lot of times, a pressure player will get a tie if it’s too close. In this case, we had two players. He was half a round higher. He’s an edge player that plays with energy, effort, all those things you look for. [He has] really good football makeup, good character. There is a blue tag on some of these guys; he had that.”

He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last year after he tore his labrum. Despite missing the NFL Combine and team’s pro day, Elliss is now fully cleared.

“The shoulder injury was unfortunate,” Elliss said. “It happened earlier in the season, but it’s something that you just have to fight through. Even then, I had a strong foundation to get through that. My family, my relationship with Jesus Christ, all of that stuff really helps you get through. Just really having that strong foundation helps. Missing the Pro Day and Combine, I know there is a plan set for me. Being able to compete at my personal Pro Day and do really well then was just a huge blessing.”

He’ll have a chance to come in and compete to fill out the team’s depth and could work his way up the depth chart once training camp and preseason come around, as always, Payton isn’t going to rush development.

“You’re never afraid to draft at the top on your strength,” Payton said. “We’ll sort that out. It’s always a harder position to find in the offseason and in free agency, and so we felt like he definitely checked the pressure player box, and then we’ll sort through that depth as we get to it.”

The Denver Broncos have six picks remaining today as the NFL Draft will conclude.