Predominantly Orange
FanSided

Denver Broncos: Linebackers the team could trade for or sign

By Sayre Bedinger

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Wesley Woodyard #59 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates a sack during the first quarter of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Wesley Woodyard #59 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates a sack during the first quarter of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 19: Running Back Jeff Wilson Jr. #41 of the San Francisco 49ers gives a stiff arm to linebacker Justin Hollins #52 of the Denver Broncos as he rushes in the third quarter during a preseason National Football League game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 19: Running Back Jeff Wilson Jr. #41 of the San Francisco 49ers gives a stiff arm to linebacker Justin Hollins #52 of the Denver Broncos as he rushes in the third quarter during a preseason National Football League game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Denver Broncos may need some help at the linebacker position. Here are some players they could look into trading for or signing.

The Denver Broncos, like every other team in the NFL, are dealing with the roster repercussions of key players — starters and backups alike — going down with injuries.

As a matter of fact, the team is doing more improvising right now at the linebacker and tight end position than the cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

After cycling through so many players with a wide variety of injuries in 2018, the Broncos are used to the ‘next man up’ philosophy.

Just at inside linebacker this offseason, the Broncos have gone down into their fourth unit to try and find guys to take some snaps with the starting defense. In order of how they are listed on the depth chart, here are the players the Broncos have lost at inside linebacker this year (for any amount of time) and the nature of their injuries.

  • Todd Davis (calf)
  • Josey Jewell (side/oblique)
  • Joe Jones (triceps)
  • Joe Dineen (hand)

The Broncos have tried a variety of things to make up for these injuries. They have been floating fifth-round pick Justin Hollins around between OLB and ILB, they put undrafted rookie Josh Watson in with the first-team to get him some reps, and they even moved Jamal Carter from safety to linebacker because they needed bodies there.

After three preseason games, is it possible the Broncos need more than just ‘bodies’ out there at ILB? Even when they’re fully healthy, do the Broncos have enough at linebacker, or should they look to bring in someone from the outside?

Because the Broncos are very limited on cap space, their options are also limited. I did some scouring of the current crop of free agents and veterans already in the league who wouldn’t cost an arm or leg.

There’s nothing imminent, of course, but here are some players the Broncos could pursue in a trade or sign in free agency.

Home/Broncos Rumors