The Denver Broncos are sitting in a rare and enviable position heading into the 2026 offseason. Fresh off their first AFC West title since 2015 and securing the top seed in the conference, this team is no longer a rebuilding project or a feel-good story-they're a legitimate contender.
And while a freak injury to Bo Nix may have derailed what looked like a Super Bowl run, the foundation is there. Now, it’s about building on it.
With Russell Wilson’s massive dead cap hit finally off the books and Nix still on a rookie deal, Denver has a golden window-financial flexibility, a young quarterback with upside, and a roster that’s already among the league’s most complete. That’s a rare trifecta in today’s NFL, and it opens the door for aggressive moves in free agency and the draft.
One name that’s suddenly worth circling in red ink? Devin Lloyd.
The Jaguars’ inside linebacker is reportedly unlikely to be re-signed by Jacksonville, and if he hits the open market, Denver should be ready to pounce.
Lloyd, fresh off a second-team All-Pro nod in 2025, checks just about every box for what the Broncos need at the heart of their defense. He’s athletic, instinctive, productive, and durable-exactly the kind of player who can elevate a unit that showed cracks at inside linebacker this past season.
Let’s break it down.
Alex Singleton, a veteran leader and tackling machine in recent years, showed signs of physical decline in 2025 and struggled in coverage. Dre Greenlaw, the splashy free-agent signing from last offseason, couldn’t stay on the field-missing half the season due to injuries and a suspension. Justin Strnad was the steady presence in the group, but both he and Singleton are set to hit free agency, and Greenlaw’s contract could be moved on from with minimal financial repercussions.
In short, the Broncos need help at ILB. And Devin Lloyd? He’s not just help-he’s a game-changer.
In 15 games last season, Lloyd put together a stat line that would make any defensive coordinator grin: five interceptions, seven passes defended, 1.5 sacks, 81 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits. He also allowed a passer rating of just 57.1 when targeted in coverage-an elite number for any linebacker, let alone one who also contributes so much in the run game and as a blitzer.
And here’s what makes Lloyd even more appealing: he’s been durable, missing just five games in four seasons. He’s still in his prime, and his all-around skill set gives defensive coordinators the flexibility to be creative. Whether you need him to cover tight ends, spy mobile quarterbacks, or shoot gaps in run defense, he can do it all.
Yes, the price tag will be high. But that’s the cost of doing business when you’re chasing a Lombardi Trophy. Denver has the cap space and the roster flexibility to make a splash, and Lloyd is the kind of player who could take this defense from good to great.
If the Broncos do land him, it likely means moving on from Singleton and Strnad-and that’s a trade-off you make 10 times out of 10 if it means adding a top-10 linebacker in his prime. A move like this would signal that Denver isn’t just content with being a playoff team. They’re going for it.
And with Bo Nix still on his rookie deal, this is exactly the kind of calculated, high-upside swing that championship teams make.