The Broncos are almost back on the field, and training camp on July 28th could tell them something important about the roster they’ve built.
With the 2026 NFL Season creeping closer and the pads about to come on, Denver will get its first real chance to see which players can separate themselves over camp and the three preseason games. That matters everywhere, but especially at inside linebacker, where the room still looks like the clearest weak spot on the roster.
Denver checked off other needs this offseason. The team added Jaylen Waddle at receiver, brought back J.K.
Dobbins and drafted Jonah Coleman at running back, and even created a bit of a numbers crunch at tight end after re-signing Adam Trautman and using fifth- and seventh-round picks on Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley. Inside linebacker, though, was a different story.
The Broncos barely spent any draft capital there, and the returns of Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad were described as underwhelming given how deep the free-agent market was.
If that group doesn’t pop in camp, another major move could be on the table.
The name to watch is Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins. He hasn’t landed an extension yet, even after Miami locked up running back De'Von Achane and center Aaron Brewer. That has only fueled speculation about whether the Dolphins might be willing to move him.
Brooks would have preferred a deal before camp, especially with the security that comes with it, but for now the uncertainty remains. Denver, meanwhile, already has a recent business connection with Miami after the Waddle trade, which at least gives the two front offices - George Paton and Jon-Eric Sullivan - some existing history.
The Broncos also have the flexibility to make a run at it. They still have cap space and draft capital, and Brooks checks a lot of boxes.
He turns 29 in October, has been described as maybe the best run-stopping inside linebacker in the NFL, and earned first-team All-Pro honors last season after leading the league in total tackles and solo tackles. He also finished with 13 tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
Across six seasons, Brooks has piled up 839 total tackles, and that kind of production would fit a long-term need in Denver. The bigger question is whether the Broncos are ready to be aggressive again.
They’re in an all-in window, and if the front office decides the inside linebacker room still isn’t good enough once camp starts, another trade could be the next move. If Miami is willing to deal Brooks for the right price, Denver has the means - and the motivation - to get involved.
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That shift has put a familiar set of names under the microscope, especially Jaleel McLaughlin and Jaleel Badie, who are both trying to carve out space in a crowded room. McLaughlin has focused on getting stronger in the weight room so he can handle more between-the-tackles work, while Badie continues to offer value in pass protection, a trait coaches tend to trust when roster decisions get tight. With training camp approaching, the Broncos backfield looks less like a settled depth chart and more like a competition that could reshape how they want to run the ball. [Read more 🡒]