Malcolm Roach’s rise in Denver has been steady, and now the Broncos may be ready to give him even more.
The seventh-year defensive lineman, No. 97, has climbed from undrafted free agent to a player with a real shot at a starting job on the Broncos’ front. At 6-3 and 290 pounds, Roach has kept building his résumé every season since entering the league in 2020 with the New Orleans Saints.
His early years in New Orleans were modest but useful. As a rookie, Roach appeared in nine games and finished with 16 total tackles, including seven solo, nine assisted and two tackles for loss.
The following season, he played in seven games and made two starts, recording 10 tackles and an interception. In 2022, his role expanded again: 13 games, three starts, 26 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.
By 2023, Roach was producing some of the best numbers of his Saints tenure, with 28 total tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass deflections in 12 games.
Free agency in 2024 brought him to Denver, and the fit made immediate sense. Roach reunited with Sean Payton, who had coached him from 2020-21, and he quickly became part of the Broncos’ defensive line rotation. He played in all 17 regular-season games and the lone playoff game, starting once, and finished with 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Roach took another step in 2025. He played in 12 regular-season games and two playoff contests, started two games, and posted career highs with 50 total tackles and six sacks.
That kind of upward trend is why his roster outlook looks strong. Roach has a good chance to start on the defensive line with John Franklin-Myers gone, and another season with double-digit appearances should be in play.
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