Head coach Sean Payton indicated the move may influence how the Broncos approach the draft, noting there may be more inside linebackers available than in past years and that teams are discovering college players who can transition from safety to inside linebacker.
Elliss has mostly played outside in his first two NFL seasons, totaling 7.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and 12 tackles for loss in 30 games. He also has experience at inside linebacker from his time at Utah, and he is just 23 years old, with two brothers who have excelled on the interior in the NFL.
The move could put Elliss in competition with projected starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, who were both re-signed this offseason. His versatility could also complement Denver’s depth on the edge while giving the coaching staff more flexibility to experiment with alignments.
Denver enters the draft with the No. 62 overall pick in the second round and could target linebackers such as Jacob Rodriguez, Jake Golday, or Josiah Trotter. Behind a pair of established edge players—Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper—the Broncos already have Dondrea Tillman and Que Robinson in reserve, along with Elliss, who contributed 28 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 13 games last season.
The position shift underscores Payton’s willingness to adapt roles and explore new talents, with the draft serving as a key avenue to solidify inside linebacker depth while leveraging Elliss’ versatility. The Broncos will monitor how the inner-backer role develops and what that means for their selections in the upcoming draft.
