Broncos changing Jonah Elliss' position is good news for one player, bad news for another

The Denver Broncos plan to give third-year outside linebacker Jonah Elliss snaps at inside linebacker this season, coach Sean Payton revealed at the NFL's annual league meeting in Arizona last month.

“It’s the decision to give him snaps going forward," Payton said. "Sometimes you have to look at the skill set, and then project where you think it can go, and your depth on the edge that allows you to do something like that."

We'll get a better feel for Elliss' potential fit at ILB during training camp and preseason this summer. While we wait to form an opinion on his new role, the switch signals big implications for two other players.

First, the positive: Que Robinson received glowing reviews from teammates and coaches last season, but he was given limited snaps as a rookie because the team is so deep at OLB. By moving Elliss to the inside, Denver will create more opportunities for Robinson to play on the edge. It's a great sign for Robinson's long-term outlook that the team wants to get him more involved.

Second, the negative: Drew Sanders could have developed into a starting-caliber ILB by now, but injuries have derailed his career. A third-round pick in 2023, Sanders should, in theory, be a top candidate to push and for snaps at ILB in his fourth season. Instead, the Broncos are changing another player's position to create more depth at ILB, which can't reflect well on the team's confidence in Sanders.