Broncos' draft results may show surprising level of confidence in one player

The Denver Broncos added seven new players to the roster in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the fact that the team failed to take an inside linebacker until the final pick of the draft has left some fans frustrated. 

Inside linebacker was arguably the team's top need heading into the draft, as Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are set to be the team's starters following the offseason release of Dre Greenlaw. Though the team was quick to re-sign both Singleton and Strnad to new deals, it can't be overly confident about the prospect of them being the top options on the roster. 

There is a good chance the Broncos were targeting one of the top inside linebackers with their first pick (No. 62 overall) in the draft. But Jacob Rodriguez, Josiah Trotter, Jake Golday, CJ Allen and Anthony Hill Jr. were all selected between picks 43-60. The Broncos then traded No. 62 to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for No. 66 and a sixth-round pick. 

With the final pick of the draft, the Broncos finally chose Red Murdock out of Buffalo and though he has a chance to be better than your standard "Mr. Irrelevant" pick, it was felt that the team needed more. 

What if the team has held that answer all along? In early April, reports came out that the Broncos were looking to move outside linebacker Jonah Elliss to the inside as he prepares to enter his third year with the team. 

Will Jonah Elliss fill the void at inside linebacker for Broncos?

Maybe the Broncos weren't aggressively looking at the inside linebacker spot because of what they have planned for Elliss? Perhaps it's more than just an experiment, but something the coaching staff is quite confident in?

The Broncos can consider trading for a veteran from another team or scouring the open market to see if there are options there, but seeing what Elliss can bring might be their top plan of attack heading into the season. 

Elliss has been a solid backup outside linebacker since being taken in the third round of the 2024 draft. But he has two brothers — Kaden and Christian — who are both in the NFL playing the inside linebacker position, so it's not impossible to believe that it could be a natural transition for him. 

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The Broncos are likely keeping a close eye on this position, but they could have much more confidence in what Elliss will bring to the position than anyone realizes. 

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