Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - IDEA: Why Denver Broncos SWITCHING Dondrea Tillman to Defensive End Could Be the ANSWER

Starting point is 00:00:00 With John Franklin Myers set to depart to Denver Broncos in free agency, Denver by had the perfect in-house replacement at a cost-effective price. 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? I'm Cody Roarck, Credential Broncos reporter for Mile High Sports. You've got a bonus episode of the show here today as we talk about a potential in-house replacement for John Franklin Myers, who appears to be set to go elsewhere. elsewhere in NFL free agency. We'll tell you why Dandre Tillman could make a position switch from outside linebacker to defensive end. Would that be valuable at this point as the Broncos move forward through the NFL draft and obviously free agency? We'll discuss that and we'll also talk about maybe why Tillman making a position switch isn't a bad idea for Denver's defense,

Starting point is 00:00:55 considering his pass rush arsenal and so much more. We'll break all that down here. So let's talk about that. John Franklin Myers more than likely set to depart in free agency. The Broncos have not reached out to his agents. There's been no contact or communication about any potential extension. That doesn't mean the deal can't get done. But just right now, if you read the tea leaves, it makes sense that maybe Denver is looking to go elsewhere,

Starting point is 00:01:16 even though the JFM wants to stay in the Mile High City. So what does the Broncos approach here as they get ready for free and see on March 11th? You could go out there and you could spend money on adding another defensive end. You can certainly look at in-house options like I talked about on a bonus episode with Inyoma-Owasarike and Sevion Jones. but what if the Broncos maybe looked at moving a guy who played outside linebacker, a bigger guy at outside linebacker to defensive end, which is just a couple of shades inside. And he might have a little bit more of a time playing, maybe a three technique.

Starting point is 00:01:46 But with how the Broncos defense attacks and the stunts that they have or the DNs, sometimes swipes to the outside, the outside linebacker crashes inside, Dandre Tillman has the skill set, I think to make a position switch work, considering the depth that Denver has right now at outside linebacker, when you factor in Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper, Jonah Ellis, Tillman essentially, but they really like the rise of Q Robinson who showed flashes last season. And they might want to get more looks at their second year player to go right next to or in front of Jonah Ellis in that rotation at outside linebacker.

Starting point is 00:02:20 This is why I think the Broncos should maybe look at Dandre Tillman at defense event. Now here's the thing. He is an exclusive rights free agent, which gives the Broncos the best cost effective approach to bring him back. They can tender him as an exclusive. right's guy essentially which gives him a one-year deal right there the broncos don't have to pay big money whereas i think if you're looking at john franklin meyers the estimated market value for him ranges anywhere between nine million to 14 million per year so to speak well if denver doesn't want to pay that and they want to go with someone they know has a good pass rush arsenal to him a switch for tillman might make the most sense here and obviously let's take a look at his rise from being a former ufl star to turning heads in training camp when he came in in 2020 and then getting himself into the rotation. In 2024, he had five sacks that season, 23 total tackles, seven quarterback hits,

Starting point is 00:03:10 but that was only in 12 games of action. This past season in 2025, he played in all 17 games, had a very unique role as well on special teams, but he tied the team lead for interceptions with two. So you have that flexibility to be able to drop him back into coverage at times. He did that as an outside linebacker, but Vance Joseph also drops defensive ends or defensive linemen and back into the middle parts of the field,

Starting point is 00:03:34 depending on what type of stunt he wants to bring. Two interceptions for him last season, very athletic as we saw when he has the ball in his hands. Three passes, defense last year, four sacks in 17 games, 41 tackles for him, nine quarterback hits and three TFLs, tackles for a loss behind the line of scrimmage.

Starting point is 00:03:52 But the pass rush is where we want to take a look at his numbers in 2024 and also 2025. From a pass rush standpoint, when they're sending him on a blitz on the quarterback, back, 24, he was sent 21 times on the blitz. He had five hurries, two quarterback knockdowns, five sacks, 12 pressures there. And his pressure numbers are arguably better than obviously Savion Jones, who didn't have a lot of action last season, did appear in three games for the Broncos, but they're better than what we saw from Inouma Uwazerica

Starting point is 00:04:18 and can Inyoma handle that type of workload. I'm not entirely sure at this point right now. But let's go back to 2025, 15 blitz attempts in terms of sent on the pass-wurst. There are three hurries, four-quivor. quarterback knockdowns, one batted pass, four sacks, 12 pressures once again. And as I mentioned, 41 tackles for him. And he doesn't miss a lot of tackles. He missed three, obviously in 2024. He missed two last season. In my opinion, Dandre has the perfect combination of size at 6'4, which is obviously the same exact height as John Franklin Myers,

Starting point is 00:04:51 who is 6'4. JFM was 288 pounds. Dandre at this point is 247 pounds. So he does have a combination of upper body strength, but the athleticism with a unique pass rush skill set where I think he's got a combination of power and also finesse in his game. To me, it wouldn't be a shock if they moved him to defensive end or if they pitched that idea there because obviously as the Broncos work their pass rush, everything works in unison between the outside linebackers and the defensive linemen considering the different types of complex stunts that Vance Joseph likes to run. To me, it makes sense. like if the Bronco was wanted to go with the ultimate cost-effective approach, but maybe some high upside there.

Starting point is 00:05:32 Dandre getting some run at D& this season, I'm not opposed to that. I think that would be a fantastic move here as obviously the team looks to go forward here throughout the season. But I'm going to dive deeper into why him playing defensive end might not be a bad idea, especially when you talk about the Broncos depth where they're at in free agency with some other team needs. And also maybe the NFL draft and maybe looking at depth options there and why,

Starting point is 00:05:54 hey, you know what, stick with the in-house approach of guys who know your system might be the best approach. We'll get that here on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. Today's episode of the show is brought to you by friends over there at five-hour energy. Welcome to the five-hour energy flavor draft with 18 different flavors to choose from, including new options like confetti craze, fruity rainbow or cotton candy. There is something for everyone. They had a wide variety of different flavors.

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Starting point is 00:09:12 Dandre Tillman making the move to defensive end might be the best approach here for the Denver Broncos, especially as they get ready to navigate this off season and why it might not be a bad idea. Real quick, I want to say thanks to everyone in Broncos country. If you want more, you want to ask. ad-free versions of the show. Make sure you join the Everyday Air Club. It's in the show notes in the description down below here.

Starting point is 00:09:30 But I wanted to talk about maybe how the Broncos offseason needs could make it an easy switch for Dondrey Tillman to move from outside linebacker to defensive end here. As we know, you have Zach Allen who's got the big time contract. You've got Sabian Jones. You have Yuma Uwazerike who make up the defensive end spots. Play multiple positions here on the D-end, D-Tackle spot there. DJ Jones, Malcolm wrote, certainly. DJ and Malcolm, those guys will rotate with one another, keep each other fresh, but Zach Allen needs to come off the field sometimes, and he's got a high motor.

Starting point is 00:10:00 You know who else has the high motor? It is Dandre Tillman. And I'm excited to see a little bit more of the rookie soon-to-be second-year-player player, Savion Jones' upcoming season. But for Denver in this off-season, if they let JFM walk and it's a money thing in terms of not wanting to pay the defense that much money across the entire board considering the recent extensions of Roach and Jones and Zach Allen, Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper.

Starting point is 00:10:23 There's a lot of money tied up to that. Cost effective is the best approach there. And Dondre Tillman could earn himself even more money by excelling and growing into this role. And maybe there is a process. Maybe if they do seriously look at moving him to this position from outside to defensive end, the difference really for Dondre is not playing as much in space because he's got to be an edge setter there, so to speak, in terms of contained against the run. He'll drop back into coverage more often at outside linebacker than he would necessarily

Starting point is 00:10:50 a defensive end, though he will from time to time in this defensive scheme. But more importantly, he's got the finesse. He's got the strength to be able to make this happen. He might have to just anchor down a little more, maybe add five to 10 pounds of muscle. I'm not entirely sure. But he is a bigger guy in nature in comparison to guys like Nick Benito, Jonathan Cooper, so to speak, at outside linebacker. And with the rise of Q Robinson, Jonah Ellis, obviously, those guys rotating in behind

Starting point is 00:11:16 Cooper and Benito, I mean, having him stay at outside linebacker, backer means that you might sacrifice another year of Q Robinson being able to play, so to speak. And I know some fans have gotten into the conversation about trading, but Denver's needs defensively this year are focused on linebacker. And they should be spending money on linebacker this offseason, specifically defensively. They have to add one or two guys to this position. So if you want to be able to have money to do that without paying big bucks on your defensive line as well, Dandre Tillman might just be the guy that makes the most sense here for that switch.

Starting point is 00:11:47 And also it allows Denver to go and focus on offensive needs like running. back and tie it in. And you have a guy who knows the defensive system. He knows the scheme. Really for Dandre from playing the outside spot, he's shifting inward at times. He'll play head up on the offensive tackle, which is what we call a five technique. It's not much of a change from him playing outside, which is either a seven or a wide nine split. And then he could even bump down to play a four eye inside shade of the tackle. He could play a three technique and work his athleticism against some of the guards there that you have. And because of the stunts that often at times we see outside linebackers crash in,

Starting point is 00:12:21 defensive ends kind of swipe to the outside. I mean, he's best suited for that because he knows how to play within the pass rush dynamics of what this team teaches from a stunt coordination standpoint. And look, obviously the loss of BT Jordan to the Dallas Cowboys, he was this ghost rider behind the scenes, pass rush consultant alongside Jamar Kane for this defensive line pass rush unit. I mean, that's obviously going to be a big blow here. But Denver's got the keys.

Starting point is 00:12:44 They've got the guys that know how to do it. Now it's about being able to maximize that. give Dandre Tillman, tender him as an exclusive rights-free agent, slide him over to this position and see what he can do. Worst case scenario, if it doesn't work out, well, guess what? He knows outside linebacker still. He could go out there and still play that and compete in training camp, so to speak. But I think Tillman could have a big impact for the Broncos defensively at defensive end because of his quick twitch.

Starting point is 00:13:09 I'd say one thing I like about him when he's trying to get after the quarterback is he does a good job. Like his motor is very high. He's got that effort that you're looking for. the ability to start, stop and still track guys down. That's impressive. And he's a good tackler. That's one thing I want to see there here for this defense. So I think if you lose JFM and free agency,

Starting point is 00:13:29 you could use a combination of Dandre Tillman as your premier starter there, so to speak, opposite of Zach Allen. And then you can rotate in guys like Inyoma, Uwazeriki. And then obviously your second year player, Savian Jones. This is a little outside of the box thinking. It may be a little unorthodox to some people. But the more I sat and thought about it after our Q Robinson bonus episode, So to me, it was kind of speaking, like, this actually might be something that you could do to keep your best players on your team because Dandre was one of the Broncos best contributors in a role player last season.

Starting point is 00:13:59 And if you don't want him to essentially, if you don't want to move on just so you can see your second year player, man, you got to keep him on your team. And the best way to do that, switch him to defensive end where he's got the same size as JFM. He might be a little bit more athletic than JFM. This is where I think that upside conversation comes in for the Broncos that best cost effective approach here. when it comes to the defensive imposition and ultimately addressing that here. Broncos country, let me know your thoughts here on what I proposed on today's bonus episode. Lockdown Broncos. Just a reminder, Sarah Bedinger, myself, we got you covered tomorrow for another episode of the show

Starting point is 00:14:31 as we talk about what George Payton said at the NFL Combine, about the linebacker position, the depth there, and also a look at in-house guys like Justin Sternad and Alex Singleton, who Peyton said they would like to bring back into the mix. But will that happen? Sarah and I, we break down George Payton's Combine Presser and so many of the tidbits that came out of that on tomorrow's episode. Lockdown Broncos. We'll see you then.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - IDEA: Why Denver Broncos SWITCHING Dondrea Tillman to Defensive End Could Be the ANSWER

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