DEN Jonah Elliss
NFL player. Position: LB (Outside/Inside). Team: Denver Broncos.
Quick Facts
- Position: Linebacker
- Team: Denver Broncos
- College: Utah
- Draft: 2024, Round 3
- Number: 52
2026 Outlook
Elliss will remain primarily an edge rusher in Denver's defense despite earlier offseason reports suggesting a move to inside linebacker. Head coach Sean Payton clarified he has position flexibility and will line up inside in passing situations, but the Broncos recognize his special ability as a pass rusher and want to continue using him there. Denver's outside linebacker room is deep with Elliss, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper (pending legal issues), though Cooper's arrest raises potential suspension concerns. (per Sean Payton's Jonah Elliss Clarification Has Ripple Effects for Broncos)
Early August 2026 training camp standout: Elliss has emerged as a bright spot through the first week of camp, making plays and flashing real pass rush upside daily. DC Vance Joseph told reporters the team will find ways to get him on the field because he's "too good to be on the sidelines." Sean Payton reiterated that Elliss is "really ascending as an edge player" and the Broncos don't want to disrupt that trajectory by moving him inside. Elliss and second-year edge rusher Que Robinson are expected to push for significant roles off the bench, and if Jonathon Cooper faces suspension, Elliss could emerge as a starter (per 2026 Denver Broncos Training Camp: 5 things we have learned through 8 days of Broncos Camp).
Role / Depth Chart
Primary backup at edge linebacker; competing with Bonitto and others. May see snaps at inside linebacker in specific packages and passing situations.
Recent News
- 2026-02-18 — 2026 NFL offseason: Players who need a change of scenery (2026 NFL offseason: Players who need a change of scenery)
- 2026-04-24 — NFL Draft 2026 best available players for Denver Broncos: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Mike... (NFL Draft 2026 best available players for Denver Broncos: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Mike...)
- 2026-05-16 — One NFL trade target for every team after the draft and deep in the offseason (One NFL trade target for every team after the draft and deep in the offseason)
- 2026-05-26 — Broncos' Depth Chart Projection Entering OTAs Features Some New Names (Broncos' Depth Chart Projection Entering OTAs Features Some New Names)
- 2026-05-03 — Denver Broncos: Defensive depth chart going into offseason program (Denver Broncos: Defensive depth chart going into offseason program)
- 2026-04-23 — Broncos depth chart going into 2026 NFL draft (Broncos depth chart going into 2026 NFL draft)
- 2026-05-05 — Denver Broncos depth chart going into the spring (Denver Broncos depth chart going into the spring)
- 2026-05-01 — Denver Broncos: Updated linebacker depth chart with Red Murdock (Denver Broncos: Updated linebacker depth chart with Red Murdock)
- 2026-06-09 — 3 Broncos roster battles that could turn ruthless before training camp (3 Broncos roster battles that could turn ruthless before training camp)
- 2026-06-09 — 53-man roster prediction for Broncos after first week of OTAs (53-man roster prediction for Broncos after first week of OTAs)