The Broncos are about to hit another key checkpoint in their offseason, and one of the more intriguing questions hanging over camp is whether Sean Payton and his staff will revisit a position idea they floated earlier in the year.
Veterans report on July 28, and Denver enters camp with a roster that changed in meaningful ways. The Broncos landed Jaylen Waddle in a major trade and otherwise leaned into a “run it back” approach with much of the group that was already in place. The overall talent level probably ticked up, but the defense also took hits with the departures of John Franklin-Myers and Dre Greenlaw.
That backdrop is part of what makes Jonah Elliss such a fascinating name to watch.
Back in March, Payton said Elliss would get snaps at inside linebacker, and he later explained the thinking behind that move. “It’s the decision to give him snaps going forward.
Skill set, it’s a position where we are wanting-I drafted his brother [Saints LB Kaden Elliss]. The same thing happened with [Eagles LB] Zack Baun, only we couldn’t get Zack Baun on the field.
Now Philadelphia managed to. It was really looking at your assets, and we know that he is smart, tough and he has all the… Sometimes, that inside backer position-one of the best in our league at San Francisco in [49ers LB] Fred Warner, you saw him play more out in space, outside backer.
Sometimes you have to look at the skill set, and then project where you think it can go, and your depth on the edge that allows you to do something like that. We will have a chance to visit with him on it.”
By the time OTAs rolled around in June, though, the message sounded a little different. Payton appeared to walk that back and suggested Elliss would stay on the edge.
To be clear, he never said Elliss was definitely making a full-time move inside. Still, the shift in tone was noticeable.
And it makes sense why Denver would hesitate. Elliss has the traits to be an EDGE player, and that spot matters more.
At the same time, he hasn’t exactly had an obvious runway to major playing time. The temptation to find him more snaps somewhere else is easy to understand.
Payton even said Elliss was doing “too good” outside, which leaves the Broncos with a pretty useful problem: a player they like, but a depth chart that doesn’t make his path simple.
Inside linebacker, meanwhile, is not exactly a loaded room. Greenlaw is gone, while Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad both returned on multi-year deals. Beyond that, Denver used the final pick in the NFL Draft on Red Murdock and added Taurean York as an undrafted free agent.
Given how little the Broncos invested in those additions, it’s fair to wonder how much immediate impact they’ll make. The final pick in the draft and an undrafted free agent usually don’t walk in and reshape a linebacker room.
So if camp opens and the inside group doesn’t separate itself, the Elliss question could pop right back up. Maybe Denver keeps him on the edge and simply expands his role if he earns it.
Maybe he works with both units. But that middle path comes with its own risk, because a player can end up doing a little of everything without mastering either spot.
For now, the safest read is that Elliss remains an EDGE player. But with the Broncos thin at inside linebacker and camp about to begin, this is one of those roster wrinkles worth watching closely.
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