The Broncos’ brief fantasy of prying Jordyn Brooks away from Miami is over.
For a while, there was at least a little room to wonder if Denver could keep working the Dolphins connection after the blockbuster March trade for Jaylen Waddle. But Miami shut that door fast, extending Brooks on a new three-year deal worth $51.3 million. Any idea of Brooks becoming a Broncos target - before the season or in the middle of it - is gone.
That matters because Brooks wasn’t just some name floating around the rumor mill. He’s coming off the first All-Pro season of his career, one that included 183 total tackles and 13 tackles for loss. That kind of production, plus the physical edge he brings, would have fit neatly into Denver’s defense.
And yet the Broncos’ actions this offseason have pointed in a different direction.
Denver made its own linebacker move in 2025 by signing Dre Greenlaw, a clear signal that the team wanted more at the position. But the current setup still leans on Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, and the Broncos appear comfortable enough with that pairing that they’re not chasing a major outside addition right now.
That’s where the frustration comes in for some fans. The Broncos said they needed a talent upgrade at linebacker when they brought in Greenlaw, but they’ve also returned to the same two players they were trying to improve over, without adding another real challenger. It’s a conservative approach, even if it doesn’t feel especially bold.
Greenlaw’s transition last season also showed how tricky this defense can be to learn. He described the challenge after the season by comparing it to trying to learn Spanish. That helps explain why Denver seems to value familiarity as much as upside.
For now, that means the Broncos are more likely to look for a reclamation project or a waiver claim if they want to change the linebacker picture. That kind of move would not be aimed at seriously threatening Singleton or Strnad for snaps.
So the Brooks idea, once a plausible upgrade path, is officially off the board. What he represented was the chance to add another high-end piece to one of the league’s best defenses. Miami took that possibility away in one move.
In Other News...
Three Broncos Camp Battles Could Shape Denver's Next Step
With training camp set to open July 28, the Broncos are heading into one of those stretches where a few seemingly modest roster questions could end up shaping the bigger picture. Coming off their AFC Championship Game run, Denver does not lack for attention at the top of the roster, but the next layer matters too, especially with J.K. Dobbins established and the staff sorting out who fits best behind him in the backfield.
The same kind of competition is playing out on both sides of the ball. Denver has to find a way to replace John Franklin-Myers production up front, with Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai'vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim all in the mix, while the receiver group still has to settle on a clear WR3 behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. Troy Franklin looks like the natural answer, but Pat Bryant has given the Broncos a different type of option, and camp should tell them plenty about which of these battles is real depth and which one becomes a defining role. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Looks Set Except For One Uncomfortable Camp Question
With rookies reporting July 22 and veterans set to follow on July 28, the Broncos are close enough to camp to start sketching out what their defense should look like. Most of the unit feels fairly settled on paper, from a secondary that should again rank among the leagues better groups to a front that has enough established pieces to give Denver a clear baseline as the summer begins.
The one uncomfortable question sits at defensive end, where the open starting job could go to Eyioma Uwazurike but is still very much up for grabs. Inside linebacker is another spot worth watching, with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad projected to open as the starters even as the position remains a major question mark, and there are also contract situations around the defensive backfield that add a little extra long-term uncertainty to an otherwise sturdy-looking group. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Rookie Is Suddenly Fueling A Familiar Draft Debate
Jonah Coleman is arriving in Denver with a path to real playing time already in view, even if he begins training camp behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey on the Broncos running back depth chart. The rookie has drawn praise for his versatility, with evaluators pointing to the kind of all-around skill set that can help in pass protection and in short-yardage spots, and Denver intends to work him into the rotation as the summer unfolds.
There is also a little extra draft-day intrigue hanging over Colemans first NFL season, the kind that tends to linger when a player lands in a place that once looked like a natural fit. The Broncos see a useful piece they can deploy based on game flow and health, but the larger question is whether Coleman can turn that early role into something bigger and give the team a reason to revisit how the board unfolded. [Read more 🡒]