The Denver Broncos have made a trade, folks. This is real life. The Broncos sit at 7-2 on the season and are on the bye in Week 10, which gives them a perfect chance to add a player or two at the NFL Trade Deadline.
The team has made a trade, but it was not on the offensive side of the ball, at least for now. Denver swung a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers for linebacker Daiyan Henley, a plus-starter at a weaker position.
This trade injects the defense with some much-needed athleticism and coverage ability at the linebacker position.
The Denver Broncos have added LB Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers
The Broncos are sending two NFL Draft picks to the Chargers for Henley, a fourth-round pick in 2027 and fifth-round pick in 2028:
Trade: Chargers are sending LB Daiyan Henley to the Denver Broncos for a 2027 fourth-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2026
Henley was drafted by the Chargers in the 2023 NFL Draft and is now in his fourth year with the team. His rookie deal ls up after this year, and with the compensation that the Broncos gave up, coupled with him being in his age-27 year, there is reason to believe that Henley could land a long-term deal with the team.
In eight games this year for the Chargers, he has one interception, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries, a half-sack, 51 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. Henley is especially good in coverage. According to Pro Football Reference, he has allowed a 79 rating in coverage this year and an 82.2 rating in coverage across his career.
His best year thus far came in 2024 when he finished with eight passes defended, 147 total tackles, and seven tackles for loss. This is a rather significant move for the Broncos, as Henley is a very good player and is someone who can fill a specific role for the team.
Henley should see a good bit of run in the defense, especially when opposing offenses are in obvious passing situations. At long last, it does feel like the Broncos have added someone of note into the linebacker room.
For whatever reason, Denver missed out on a ton of quality linebackers last year in free agency and during the NFL Draft, but they seem to be correcting course here with a major move for Henley. With the bye week here, Henley could realistically get up to speed during the break and be ready to go in Week 10 and beyond.
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