Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos’ Nik Bonito Headlines EDGE Group PRIMED for Massive IMPACT
Episode Date: July 16, 2026The Denver Broncos edge group features the best depth in the entire NFL, led by Nik Bonitto as an emerging superstar pass rusher. Despite the ongoing Jonathon Cooper legal issue, Denver's confident in... Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson who can produce at a high rate inside of the Broncos and Vance Joseph's defense. Cody Roark and Sayre Bedinger break down the Broncos outside linebacker group as Broncos training camp approaches. Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and covers the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos. WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT? For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today -- Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-broncos/ Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nfl/ 📲 Cody Roark Twitter / (https://twitter.com/codyroarknfl) 📲 Cody Roark Instagram / (https://instagram.com/codyroarknfl) 📲 Sayre Bedinger Twitter / (https://twitter.com/sayrebedinger) Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. one 📲 https://lockedonbroncos.supercast.com/ TEXT LINE: Support the show and interact with us on Denver Broncos rumors, News, Game Previews, Q&A's, and more. 📲 https://joinsubtext.com/c/lockedonbroncos 📲 TEXT: (720) 580-5759 📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl! #squarepod Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Denver Broncos outside linebacker, Nick Bonito,
headlines a very good pass rush group,
but the depth behind him might be the best in the NFL.
You are locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast.
Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
What's up, Broncos country?
Cody Works, Sarah Beninger here for another episode,
Locked on Broncos as we break down Denver's outside linebacker group
growing into training camp,
which is just about a week and a half, two weeks away.
We're excited. We'll go through and we'll predict what the outside lineback room is going to look like on the 53 man roster.
We're also analyze which players are fighting for a spot on the 53. We'll go through and tell you which matchups you need to watch for specifically.
And also go through some key storylines here. Nick Benito could be on a monster pace this upcoming season after the last two years.
He's stacked impact production in the SAC department. We'll break down this room. We're on today's episode of the show.
I'm excited about this because this is one of those position groups. Let's go back to that hacky year in 2020.
where this room was Randy Gregory and Bradley Chubb.
And right now when you think about it, looking back,
it's like, hey, you know, that might not have been a bad duel right there,
but it never worked out here in the Mile High City for Randy Gregory.
Bradley Chubb was traded because, you know,
he dealt with some injuries in Denver.
They got some good capital out of him.
And that afforded the opportunity for guys like Jonathan Cooper and Nick Benito to step up.
But going into 2023, when Sean Payton was the first guy here,
it was once again, Randy Gregory.
And it was Frank Clark coming in.
as the two outside linebackers.
And that experiment did not last long.
And that's when we really saw Nick Benito and Jonathan Cooper take the mantle and run with it.
Remember back in that time when I think both of those guys,
Randy Gregory and Frank Clark were playing like deep into the fourth quarter of a preseason game.
I think it was both bum, Cody.
That really showed you just how much they ticked off Sean Payton.
Because I remember there was a whole fiasco with like Frank Clark and practices.
And obviously Randy Gregory was a high priced free agent who wasn't
living up to expectations.
And during that 2022 season that you mentioned, that was Nick Benito's rookie year.
So the Broncos had just traded franchise legend, maybe the best defensive player in franchise history,
Von Miller to the L.A. Rams, he wins a Super Bowl.
You use the pick that you got basically from that Von Miller trade to take Nick Benito.
And so the pressure was on Benito in a big, big way, right?
And I think honestly, seeing him in that 2020,
season not contributing and seeing the disaster that was Frank Clark and,
you know,
Randy Gregory.
Jacob Martin,
who actually had a good year last year.
If you look up the numbers,
they had 18 QB hits.
But yeah,
all those different characters that this team had,
they tried to kind of piece things together.
There was another guy,
Stephen Weatherly,
remember him?
I mean,
the Broncos tried everything to try and get past rush.
Yeah,
hardly knew him,
exactly.
But they tried everything.
and ultimately you've figured something out through avenues that nobody really expected, right?
And so now, like you said, Nick Benito leads the charge of what could be, in my opinion, Cody,
I think easily the best edge group in the entire NFL.
And really we got to see Jonathan Cooper, Nick Benito in that Chicago Bears game.
What was it in 2020?
After they've just said, you know what, we're not going to mess with Frank Clark.
We're releasing him.
We're moving off from Randy Gregory.
It was Benito and Cooper that really kind of accelerated Denver's comeback.
against Justin Fields and the Bears in that game.
And those guys have kind of been the two cornerstone pieces at outside linebacker for the last
couple of years.
But the real story here has been the rise of Nick Benito.
I mean, when you talk about where he's at, the pace that he's been on, the overall
amount of sacks that he's ultimately contributed here to this Broncos defense has been
incredible.
I mean, last year, he was in the MVP conversation.
He finished fourth in MVP voting.
There were some stretches of games where he didn't have a sack.
And we were talking about at one point, like, man, he's on pace to break to
single season sack record. Now, Miles Garrett ultimately did it in 17 games, but Nick Benito was
on a pace there for a minute. They were like, hey, he is going to break it. If he can just average
his one and a half sacks per game, every game down the stretch. And unfortunately, a couple of
those games where there was a stretch of no sacks, extra attention. I mean, it all added up.
But other guys contributed with Denver's defense, other guys that outside linebacker stepped up.
Dandre Tillman, Q. Robinson in various spurts last season. Jonathan Cooper, obviously,
the second leading sack guy on the team for Denver here.
These are things to pay attention to as we go into 2026,
but it's going to be a little different here because the Broncos have to go into training camp here,
operating on the contingency that, you know what,
we cannot expect Jonathan Cooper to be available as he's going through his current legal process,
sending from a domestic violent incident that took place obviously this offseason.
Now, here's the thing.
He's got a hearing, I believe it's on the 24th of July, which is coming up.
So the Broncos are going to monitor that.
but if nothing comes to that and if trial ends up having to take place down the line next year,
which our good friend Mike Kless said could very well be a possibility in 2027 is when he actually
might have to step in front of a judge and there actually might be a trial in that situation.
I would not be shocked if he ends up on the commissioner's exempt list, but until that happens,
he will be available if the team wants for him to be able to practice and to specifically play
pending all these legal outcomes.
But right now here's where we're going to keep it.
Football only.
The Broncos have to prepare as if Jonathan Cooper,
not going to be available to them, obviously, for his situation.
And that now leads to Jonah Ellis being ready to take over.
And Sarah, I would say Jonah, he looks like he's ready to take over based on everything we saw on the offseason program.
The biggest thing with Jonah this year, trying to find a way to stay healthy.
That has kind of been a little bit of an issue throughout the first couple of years of his NFL career.
And obviously going back to his final year at college, he had the shoulder injury.
Staying healthy must be a priority this year because he very well could be the next starter right here next to Nick
And I think he could be the breakout star of this Denver Broncos defense.
Honestly, when you look at where there's availability for guys to step up,
to step in, to seize a bigger role, I mean, there's really two spots, right?
There's the defensive line where you have a starting job available after John
Franklin Myers left for the Tennessee Titans.
And then now there's the potential of taking over Jonathan Cooper's job.
And I think that Jonah Ellis is absolutely ready for that, Cody.
He's played exactly 38% of the snaps in the games that he has played.
which is 30 total games over the last two seasons.
And we've seen that productivity from him, right?
We've seen him obviously develop not just as a pass rusher,
but as a run defender, somebody who's very aggressive,
he's very physical, he converts speed to power exceptionally well.
I just think there's so much to like about Jonah Ellis's game.
And what do we know about him?
Going into this off season, the discussion was,
hey, is he going to switch over to playing inside linebacker?
I think ultimately, even though he's not making that switch,
the goal remains the same to get him on the field more, to see him play more because he's an
impact player when he is on the field. So I feel like this pass rush that has set a franchise
record in back-to-back seasons, 63 sacks in 2024, 68 sacks now in 2025. You're gunning for
that Chicago Bears record from 1984 of 72 sacks. And I think that the way that that's going
to happen is somebody else becoming another double-digit sack guy,
Jonathan Cooper was that guy, obviously alongside Nick Benito in 2024.
Last season, it was Benito doing the heavy lifting, right?
And everybody else contributed, but it's getting that second player who can be a double-digit
sack guy that's going to help you achieve that goal of breaking the record.
Maybe it's Zach Allen.
We'll talk about him on our defensive line episode.
But I think Jonah Ellis is that breakout player candidate that really gives the Broncos another option.
Year three is the ideal time for him to step in, to step up, and to become a
full-time starter. Like you said, the Jonathan Cooper situation kind of is what it is. Football
terms, you really felt like this was going to be a year where the Broncos made a major effort
to get Ellis on the field regardless of anything else, you know, happening. So I feel like that 38%
is going to go up significantly here in 2026. Well, one thing Sarah and I are going to do coming
up next year on today's episode of the show. We're going to highlight the Broncos outside lineback
and we're going to tell you which position battle you need to keep your eye on specifically because
this is a loaded position room here at outside linebacker.
It's exciting.
And there are a couple of guys already who've solidified themselves over the last year
and a half, Dandre Tillman, Q Robinson showcasing he needs more playing time and the coaching
staff believing in him.
But there's some other guys behind those guys that are chopping at the bit to get opportunities.
We'll break it all down here on today's episode of the show.
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NFL Broncos country. We're going to break that down, position battles, predicting who's
going to actually make this team, whether the Broncos keep five guys or they keep six guys.
We're going to break it all down on today's episode of the show. But I want to say thank you to
all of you who make us your first listen of the day every single day. And thanks for rocking with
us all throughout the offseason. It means the world to Cody and I to get to share in this
journey with everybody, especially as it's been a pretty slow off season, Cody. I mean, not
notwithstanding, obviously the blockbuster trade the Broncos made in.
March. But man, it's been a slower off season, but you know what? I think we're finally
rounding third base here. And we will ditch the baseball analogy as soon as football season is finally
here. But I'm excited about the depth of this outside linebacker group, right? I mean, obviously
we've seen they've flexed this depth over the last couple of years. You mentioned these guys,
Dondray Tillman, Q Robinson. I mean, we talked a little bit about Jonah Ellis already, but there's
also some prized pickups in the undrafted free agent market Johnny Walker Jr.
Desan McCullough.
And then obviously, too, I mean, Drew Sanders is kind of the forgotten guy, right?
I mean, Drew Sanders is in that position group and kind of floating.
I think that what you're going to see at training camp unfold, Cody, is just an absolute,
I mean, these guys are going to be like missiles coming at Jarrett Stidham and Sam
Ellinger when they get the opportunities to do so.
what's that number one position battle, though, that you're looking forward to among these guys?
Well, right now, I truly do believe we're waiting to see what happens, what the league decides to do with Jonathan Cooper, obviously, and what the team ultimately decides to do here.
But right now, I'm kind of operating on the assumption.
It's going to be Nick Benito and Jonah Ellis as your top two guys at this position group right now.
That's my operation.
And I really do feel like behind them, it is Dandre Tillman, and it is Q Robinson as those other two guys.
when we talk about the rotation and the pass rush that Denver has.
To me, I think the position battle is if the Broncos move on from Jonathan Cooper,
if he's suspended, right?
He's not going to be on the active roster.
That would force Denver, I think, to carry five guys at this position.
I think regardless they would.
Now, if Cooper wasn't in this situation, he would be one of the five guys here at this position.
The question is, how do you get five guys onto the active game day roster?
That's where things get tricky.
So for me, operating on the assumption that Cooper is not going to be,
part of the team right now. And I think obviously going to at least the first six weeks of the
regular season, all things pending. I think you got to keep an eye on Drew Sanders, who I excluded from
a graphic that we made here in terms of preview in this position. That is my error on this. But
I think between he, Johnny Walker Jr., the second year past rusher out of Missou, who received a very
high signing bonus with the team last year, spent most of last year on IR after he suffered an injury.
And then Deson McCullough, who obviously Sean Payton coached his father at one point.
You want to see these guys competing.
And ultimately, here's where it's going to matter, Sarah, what you look like during these practices,
how you translate that into preseason action when you were on the field.
Because when you think about it, when starters do get the chance to play,
you are going to lose opportunities.
If you're the guys on the back end of the roster,
you're going to have to make every snap count in that situation.
And I think it's imperative for Drew Sanders.
I think it's imperative here for Johnny Walker, Jr.,
who we didn't get a C in the preseason last year.
That's what I want to see.
And obviously, Desaa Mancola, who's kind of this sleep.
under the radar type guy longer, a little bit of a taller outside linebacker in comparison to
other guys on the roster. But to me, that's the position battle you have to watch for if
Denver is going to carry a fifth into the regular season. If Jonathan Cooper goes on the commissioner
exempt list or is not on the roster here for Denver. Yeah. So I almost wonder, is there a sixth like
spot? You know, I guess if we're not including Cooper in the mix, could we be talking about six guys
in total with Cooper factored in there? Is it a fifth guy from, I mean, okay,
Here's what I love about the edge position in training camp in the preseason.
This is one of those position groups where you get to put on a highlight tape.
We talk about this every year around the preseason,
but you're going up against second and third string,
maybe even in some instances,
fourth string,
offensive linemen,
and you're going up against younger or worse quarterbacks
who hold on to the ball a little bit longer.
So as a pass rusher,
you have an opportunity to show the best of what you can do.
If you can get around the edge quicker than everybody else,
if you can pop that ball loose when you get to the quarterback,
if you can just bully an offensive tackle back into the backfield,
if you can make plays against the run,
this is one of those position groups that really gets the opportunity
to shine once the pads come on just because of the nature of how things are
in training camp and the preseason.
And so that's the battle that I'm looking forward to most
is that bottom of the roster battle where we know,
John D'Hare Tillman, he's proven himself.
Jonah Ellis, he's proven himself.
And even, you know, obviously Q Robinson in a limited sample size has proven himself.
So you have your top five really set if Cooper is in the equation.
Now, if Cooper isn't in the equation, as you say, he could potentially not be, right?
Which I think we all acknowledge is a real possibility.
Then there's a sixth guy among this group who could end up making the roster.
And I think you could have that happen for a variety of reasons.
Do you want to protect somebody who you don't want to subject to waivers who's kind of just going to be a taking up space on your 53 man, but not necessarily going to be activated every week on game days?
You're just trying to say, hey, we're not subjecting this guy to waivers because we're not giving him away for free.
And we know that pass rushers, I mean, although we kind of are evidence to the contrary, don't grow on trees.
and the Broncos have guys who are versatile in so many different ways.
Johnny Walker Jr., more of a traditional outside linebacker coming off the edge.
Drew Sanders, kind of that hybrid guy who can play inside linebacker, can play off the edge,
can kind of play it all over the place for you.
And then Deson McCullough, who is like the, I don't even know what position he was called.
It was a, where was he even?
He was at multiple different schools in college.
He was like a rover, but they called it something because he played.
played like a safety slash linebacker slash star edge.
I'm guessing it's a star position.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
So he plays this weird like, you know, anywhere.
Joker role position.
Yeah, he can do anything.
The Joker, the Joker of the defense.
Don't do that to this guy, Cody.
But that's what I love about these players is that they're so unique in their own
individual ways that it kind of makes the ways that they're going to pop in the
preseason all the more fascinating.
And maybe even Denver brings somebody into during training camp.
That's always something that could change after the first day or even in the days leading up to camp.
The Broncos could be sitting there in their meetings evaluating the roster.
Like, we've seen this happen.
I just don't think it would be something that we see happen in this situation.
I think Denver really likes the group of guys that they have going into the summer.
But for me, I think another thing we have to pay attention to here is the numbers game.
If Denver were to carry hypothetically six guys at outside linebacker,
well, now you're running into a situation where your numbers are going to be impacted somewhere else.
We've already got, as we've talked about in this show, we've already talked about 11 dbs between the corners and safeties.
Well, now if you have six guys at this position, okay, well, now that puts you at around 17 total players on defense.
And then that's not even factoring in the off ball linebacker where I think we and I had five there.
So now you add in, we're doing my Steiner math here.
Now you're at 22 guys.
Well, then now what's going to happen with the defensive line, which will always.
obviously breakdown tomorrow, you're not going to carry five gods on the defensive line.
You're going to probably carry six or seven there.
So then that impacts for offensive numbers.
Six would be very, very hard.
But that's where we get into the fun conversation here as we predict the Broncos outside
linebacker room here for the 53-man roster.
Sarah and I are going to share how many players we think they will keep.
We're going to share the names that we think are going to headline that and so much more here
on today's episode of the show.
The Denver Broncos have a very good dilemma on hand when it comes to their outside
linebacker position. They believe they have the best depth right now in the entire NFL
behind guys like Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper, Jonah Ellis, Dandre Tillman, and you got some
exciting young guys behind them that are chomping at the bit to get an opportunity.
And certainly in training camp in the preseason, they are going to get just that,
especially with Cooper's ongoing legal situation.
Broncos country, we're going to say thank you once again for tuning in.
Rocco with us here on the lockdown podcast network, the number one sports podcast network in
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throughout the entire offseason, and now football is about to be here.
We're going to have nonstop Broncos coverage almost 24-7.
That's what Sarah and I are going to bring to you here on the show.
Sarah, all right, you kind of hinted at the idea of maybe six outside linebackers on this roster
considering the Jonathan Cooper situation.
How are we going to approach us?
I want to hear from you like, give me your number of guys that you are convicted on them
going through here and keeping and who those guys are and who are, I would say, better practice squad
fits right now for this team.
I think the ideal practice squad players for the Broncos are going to be
McCullough and Johnny Walker Jr.
Like unless they absolutely explode in the preseason, those are two talented guys
that you've invested pretty substantially after the draft to go ahead and sign those guys.
We can't say definitively because this would be, I don't know, not a legal process,
but every team does it, right?
But sometimes you place guys on injured reserve, you know, and they're not necessarily
hurt the entire year, but you do it to kind of stash them away.
I kind of have a feeling that's what happened with Johnny Walker Jr.
Last year, the Broncos were like, hey, he ain't making this team this year, but we don't want
to lose him at the same time.
So give him another shot this year.
We'll see what happens, right?
I mean, honestly, like I said, you can't say that definitively, but sometimes that's the
way that it goes with guys on the roster is you get placed on IR and you get another shot the
next offseason.
It's a long-term development play.
I think that when you look at the top.
five on this team. It's pretty clear cut, right?
I'm Jonathan Cooper, Nick Winito at the top of the depth chart, Jonah Ellis, and then Dandre
Tillman as your three and four, excuse me. And then I think honestly, Q Robinson is the
no-brainer number five. So what's got to happen is if you have a sixth guy from this list that
we have making the team, then the Cooper situation will have to have gone south to the point
to the Broncos, like you said, potentially can't count on him being part of this team. So that guy,
to me would be Drew Sanders.
And I don't think that he's proven enough to necessarily be guaranteed a roster spot.
But I also kind of feel like the Broncos owe it to him in a way, given the fact that they've
been the ones who have been changing his position over and over again.
Like, I mean, that's, you know, maybe partly Drew's fault as well for not being on the field
and being available.
But the Broncos are also kind of not having a clarity with what they want to do with him.
So I think if you find him a home at the edge position, give him a shot in his final year of his rookie contract to see what he could do because you're not getting any value for him.
So unless somebody is substantially better, he would be my pick.
He can play special teams too.
So those would be my five, six guys if the Broncos aren't able to rely on Cooper being part of this team.
Yeah.
No, and I think that's that that probably makes the most sense when you look at it.
I'm going to continue with the theme of projecting as if the Broncos aren't going to have Cooper around right now.
I think that's the only safe thing that we can do kind of right now in this situation is operate on that assumption.
We can go through two scenarios.
If Cooper's on the team, it is the order in which you just kind of outlined right there.
For me, it's going to be Nick Benito, Jonah Ellis, Dondray Tillman, Q Robinson is the four guys.
And I think Drew Sanders will be back on the practice squad.
I even think Johnny Walker Jr. is going to be a practice squad candidate where they can develop there.
And obviously, you have flexibility with the three elevations that you can, you know,
use those guys if you find yourself in a little bit of a pickle here.
But I also think that if Denver carries a fifth guy in this scenario specifically,
I don't think that fifth guy is currently on this Broncos roster.
I think it'll be someone who's on another team right now who won't clear waivers
or just maybe a potential free agent.
I think that guy will be that fifth option here for Denver operating on the assumption
that they cannot have any reliance on Cooper being around at least for the start of the season
or maybe even for 2026 right now.
So I've got them keeping five guys at this position.
And it's just, once again, the numbers game with where this roster is at right now,
not only just defensively, but even on the offensive side of the ball,
it makes this thing so tricky because you have to sacrifice essentially a really good player through waivers
and hope that that guy will be able to come back onto your practice squad.
Denver's going to find themselves in that position with at least one or two players.
Now is it going to be an outside linebacker?
I'm not sure.
I think that there would be a good chance that Drew clear his waivers.
I think Desaam McColo would obviously clear waivers.
you know, he's got some athletic traits to him that can be developed,
but I don't think he's going to be ready to be playing for anyone's 53-man roster
this upcoming season.
And then obviously Johnny Walker Jr. is kind of that wild card where maybe there is a team out
there that liked him initially two years ago.
They're like, hey, we're waiting to see if this guy becomes available.
And if he does, we're going to find a way to get him.
To me, those three guys make the most sense from a practice squad standpoint at this point.
So that's my assumption right here.
I'm going Nick Benito and Jonah Ellis is the two starters right now for Denver.
Dondre Tillman and Q. Robinson rotating in behind them and the fifth guy,
not currently on this Broncos roster.
And it's important to remember, too, like, you know,
every situation is different and independent of each other.
But remember, Shaquille Barrett once cleared waivers and the Broncos dashed him on the practice squad.
So, I mean, it's anything is possible when it comes to this type of stuff.
And so I think that you're right, Cody, and you bring up a great point is,
let's say Jonathan Cooper is not available as we've been kind of, you know,
running with that hypothetical here.
That means that from last year's defense that racked up 68 total sacks,
now you're missing John Franklin Myers, seven and a half,
and you're missing Jonathan Cooper's eight.
So that's 15 and a half out of your 68 last year.
I mean, that's a little less than a quarter,
but at the same time, like that's a very substantial chunk.
And those are two veteran players who are capable of giving you and logging a lot of snaps.
So that's where you then have to ask the question,
does a veteran make sense?
And what type of veteran is that?
And we've thrown out the idea this whole offseason of like guys like Cam Jordan,
Von Miller.
Well,
Von Miller came out and kind of said basically like,
you know,
what we all know,
right?
Like this point in his career,
he ain't playing special teams.
But not only is he not playing special teams,
he was talking about this idea that he also is going to need like first team
reps to stay fresh.
So it's not like necessarily you're bringing in.
And my thinking is,
hey get get a guy who's like a great three point specialist and he can always you're the last thing to go is
your shot right and for von miller it's like the last thing to go is your pass rush he had nine sacks
last season in like 37% of the snaps or something but it doesn't work necessarily that way in football
right it's like he might be a good pass rush specialist but he still needs those reps during the
week and who's that coming at the expense of and so the question becomes like what do you trade
for somebody, you know, if somebody's trying to dump a player and you say, hey, we've got a
spot. We've got extra picks. We got what, 10 in this upcoming draft. We could throw a pick at,
you know, this team for this player who they don't like him anymore or they've got a new
coaching staff. He's not a scheme fit or, you know, what, what have you. There's so many different
circumstances and scenarios that could bring something about. So I think whether it's a trade,
a free agent, maybe there's something to kind of look into where the Broncos bring in a, you know,
maybe a little dart throw, especially if they're not pleased with Drew Sanders.
That's the whole caveat to the whole thing is if they don't like what they see from Drew,
now that becomes a situation where you say, hey, we've lost Franklin Myers and Cooper,
potentially for this season and beyond.
Now we have to bring in somebody else to raise the floor of this depth in this room and
there's options available.
And if Drew has a very good preseason, then I think it makes it easier to say, okay,
hey, he's going to be the fifth.
He has a quiet off season, quiet preseason, whatever it may be.
Then at that point, that's where I think, you know, he's not going to make the 53,
but practice squad.
And then I think that you run into those scenarios where, hey, early on,
you might elevate this guy this week.
You might elevate Johnny Walker Jr.
The next week as that fifth guy.
And maybe that guy plays special teams.
Maybe he doesn't.
But so much of that is where that fifth guy is going to have to be.
You have to play special teams or else.
There is not a justifiable place for you on the active.
roster going into this upcoming season.
So it is very interesting to see how this room will play out.
And obviously, we'll be boots on the ground, Broncos country at every training camp practice.
We'll have the cover throughout the preseason.
And we'll be here throughout the entire regular season as well.
Broncos football set to begin here.
And you better make sure you're locked and loaded here on Locked on Broncos.
That'll wrap up today's outside linebacker preview here.
As we get ready for training camp tomorrow's episode of the show, we're going to look at the
Broncos defensive line.
There are some questions.
Who replaces JFM?
What might the roles of Savian Jones and Tyler Oneedham look like here?
in this defense and how many players will the Broncos keep at the defensive line?
That's where things get very interesting.
We'll break it all down on tomorrow's episode of the show.
We'll see you then.
