The Denver Broncos defense returns a lot of continuity across the board as the team prepares to return to the practice field for OTAs beginning next week.
Denver Broncos OTAs: Three Storylines On Defense
The Denver Broncos led the NFL defensively in many major categories last season, including in sacks for the second consecutive season. After the departure of John Franklin-Myers in NFL Free Agency, can rookie defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim and second-year end Sai’vion Jones help repurpose his production? Will this be the last ride for Denver’s starting cornerback trio? And what will the linebacker rotation look like?
Broncos aim to spread out sack production after John Franklin-Myers departure
John Franklin-Myers had 7.5 of Denver’s 68 sacks last season and was a high-pressure producer for opposing quarterbacks. He had 15 quarterback hits and 23 pressures while playing 49% of the snaps defensively.
Denver’s depth on the defensive line was another reason they were successful. Whenever JFM or Zach Allen came off the field, the Broncos’ combination of D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, and Eyioma Uwazurike stepped up, as did edge rushers Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, and Dondrea Tillman.
The outside and interior of the defensive line worked in unison. After spending a third-round pick on Onyedim, it’s safe to assume coming into OTAs that he and Sai’vion Jones will be the two favorites competing to start at defensive end, as well as Eyioma Uwazurike.
It’s hard to replace one player’s dominant impact, but the Broncos are hopeful they can spread that production out amongst their depth and youth.
Last ride for Broncos starting cornerback trio?
Patrick Surtain II isn’t going anywhere, and neither is Riley Moss or Ja’Quan McMillian — at least for 2026.
However, after this season, Moss and McMillian will both become unrestricted free agents unless the Broncos extend them before or during the season.
You can make the argument that Denver has the best starting trio at outside corner and nickel in the league, with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles also having an argument.
Surtain erases one side of the field, McMillian has become one of Denver’s most clutch defensive players, and Moss plays well under pressure despite being heavily targeted.
He posted something during the offseason that had Alice and Chain’s ‘Rooster’ as the background song, and it describes his mentality perfectly.
‘Ain’t found a way to kill me yet.’ “Here they come to snuff the rooster. Yeah here come the rooster, yeah. You know he ain’t gonna die”
Moss always plays bigger with a chip on his shoulder, and that chip remains for him and McMillian, especially with the team looking for last year’s first-round rookie Jahdae Barron to emerge and take more on his plate defensively.
The Broncos have one of the best problems in the league with their depth at cornerback, but with the team approaching scenarios in the next two seasons at other positions of need, it may be hard to keep this trio intact beyond this year. If they truly value them, they’ll find a way to make it possible.
How does Broncos linebacker rotation look?
After moving on from Dre Greenlaw this offseason, the Broncos will add around $8M to their salary cap on June 2 because they released him with a post-June 1st cut designation.
That move could allow Denver to roll into the season with more cap space, or they could use it to spend in free agency or take care of some impending free agents before the season begins.
Regardless, it’s unlikely the Broncos add any more pieces at linebacker right now after they re-signed Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton this offseason. Both players project to start this upcoming season, but Denver’s decision to move Jonah Elliss from the edge to off-ball could open up competition, in particular for Singleton.
Payton said in his pre-draft press conference that Elliss has the traits to make the position switch, and they liked what they saw from him at times in coverage last season. Having him switch this offseason allowed them to focus on other positions in the NFL Draft mid-round.
“There are certainly some players that are playing that position well at the college level, but that is one option,” Payton said. “I mentioned that because he has those traits, and it starts with just being a good football player. We are always trying to get our best players on the field.”
Behind Elliss, the Broncos have Jordan Turner, Levelle Bailey, and Karene Reid returning from last year, but they also added Red Murdock in the seventh round and Taurean York as an undrafted rookie free agent, which should open up competition across the board amongst all of those names.
Denver’s typically kept five off-ball backers on the 53-man roster, and spots 3-5 are open for business competition-wise, and it all begins on Tuesday.