The Broncos open preseason on August 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, and for a roster that looks loaded, this is still the part of the calendar where fringe players can force their way into the conversation.
That matters especially at inside linebacker, a spot that has given Denver trouble for years. The Broncos took a swing last offseason by signing Dre Greenlaw, but he was only on the field for about half the games and was cut after one season. He was the best linebacker on the roster, but Denver clearly wasn’t interested in keeping that pairing going.
Instead, the team brought back Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Strnad brings pass-rush and coverage value.
Singleton, though, remains a problem in coverage and doesn’t offer much beyond piling up tackles. Even with a deep free-agent market at the position this offseason, Denver is still set to roll with the same duo, and that has left plenty of people wondering why the room wasn’t upgraded more aggressively.
There are at least some young names worth watching. The Broncos used the final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Red Murdock out of Buffalo, and he has already drawn attention in camp. As one post noted, he was listed behind the veterans and other backups, but that’s no surprise for a rookie in Sean’s setup, and it also pointed out that keeping Murdock buried could be tough given his strong camp and big-play ability.
Denver also added Taurean York as an undrafted free agent. York is only 21 and served as a college captain, which gives him a profile worth tracking. Murdock, meanwhile, nearly went undrafted despite massive production in college and the all-time NCAA forced fumbles record.
Karene Reid and Levelle Bailey are in the mix as well, giving the Broncos a handful of depth options to sort through behind Singleton and Strnad. But even with those additions, the feeling around the room is that Denver left too much on the table, both in free agency and in the draft.
That’s why these preseason reps matter. With starters expected to play some against Atlanta and the backups handling the rest, August 14 will offer the first real look at whether this linebacker group has actually improved or is still living on shaky ground.
Last season, this was arguably the weakest position on the roster. If the non-starters don’t make noise now, that conversation may not change much in 2026. Murdock and York are the obvious names to watch, and if Denver is going to alter the story at linebacker, the rookies may have to start it.
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