Broncos moving Jonah Elliss inside could impact draft plans

The Denver Broncos have shuffled their linebacker depth chart ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.

The Broncos plan to give outside linebacker Jonath Elliss snaps at inside linebacker this year, and the team is moving inside linebacker Drew Sanders back to outside linebacker. That switcheroo could impact the team's plans at linebacker during the draft later this week.

“I think it can," coach Sean Payton said last week when asked if Elliss' position switch would impact the team's draft plans at ILB or OLB. "There are probably a little bit more inside backers than what we are used to. There is certainly good video tape on a number of guys. That position has changed over the years where you are finding guys who are moving from safety to that position or from an edge position back.

"There are certainly some players that are playing that position well at the college level, but that is one option. I mentioned that because he has those traits and it starts with just being a good football player. We are always trying to get our best players on the field. Does that impact how we draft or is it vice versa? That would be the six-million-dollar question. I think it’s a little bit of both.”

It was somewhat of a non-answer from Payton, who ultimately settled on "a little bit of both." Denver seems likely to add an inside linebacker at some point during the draft, but whether it's an early pick or a late pick remains to be seen. The draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.

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