Seventh in a series previewing the Broncos’ 2026 roster in the weeks leading up to the start of training camp in late July. Previously: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers,tight ends, offensive linemen and defensive linemen.
On the roster (8): Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Dondrea Tillman, Drew Sanders, Johnny Walker and Dasan McCullough.
How many on the 53? 4-6
Most impactful offseason move: The ongoing uncertainty around Jonathon Cooper as he faces a felony assault charge.
This obviously is not a roster move or a transaction, but it is the story of the offseason for the Broncos outside linebackers. Cooper, 28, was expected to pair with Bonitto for yet another season as one of the league’s most disruptive edge-rushing duos. Instead, his own immediate playing future with the Broncos is in limbo and so, too, is Denver’s plan at the position. Cooper could be released by the Broncos and, even if he’s not, faces a potentially lengthy suspension from the NFL given the domestic violence-related nature of the charges he faces stemming from incidents involving an ex-girlfriend earlier this year. On the field, Cooper has played in every game for Denver over the past three years and, in that span, collected 27 sacks and 27 tackles for loss while playing 74% (2023), 71% (2024), and 61% (2025) of defensive snaps. If he is gone or misses a chunk of the season, his absence will rival John Franklin-Myers’ as the defense’s biggest to fill.
Biggest question to answer in camp: How do the Broncos fill the Cooper void?
There are still steps to play out, but for the purposes of this exercise, letap assume Denver is going to play, at minimum, some games without Cooper. Maybe all of them. Are they as well equipped as they appear to fill the snaps he played? Cooper is not only a good pass-rusher, but he’s been stout against the run, too. Thatap important opposite Bonitto, who has worked hard to turn himself into a competitive player against the run, but whose calling card is world-class pass-rush ability. Among the rest of the outside linebacker group, Tillman and Robinson are bigger players and have earned high marks in run defense. Elliss’ most natural ability is rushing the passer, but he’s shown he can handle the run game, too, and Denver likes his versatility so much that in some sub packages he may end up playing more in the middle of the field. That trio is capable of rounding out an upper-echelon four-man rotation with Bonitto, but only if each takes the next step in his game this fall.
Battle to watch: The starting job opposite Bonitto
Again, for this exercise letap assume Cooper’s starting spot is up for grabs. It’ll be a heated battle. There’s a realistic outcome in which playing time varies depending on opponent, but outside linebackers coach Isaac Shewmaker and coordinator Vance Joseph want players they can count on in any game situation. Elliss and Tillman have more experience than Robinson, but Robinson looks like a true breakout candidate going into his second season. He played only 370 defensive snaps in his collegiate career at Alabama and then dressed for six regular-season games as a rookie, but showed tantalizing flashes whenever he got opportunities over his rookie year. Now, can he turn himself into a regularly impactful player in his second season? Thatap a big jump, but if he can make it, Robinson will have every chance to win a starting job opposite Bonitto.
Under the radar: Sanders
Throw Sanders in the mix of 2023 Broncos draft picks entering an interesting final year of his rookie deal. Sanders, of course, has played less and is more of an unknown than second-round pick Marvin Mims Jr. or fellow third-round pick Riley Moss. He played in all 17 games as a rookie but has appeared in just four since then, first because of a torn Achilles tendon in the spring of 2024 and then because of a training camp foot injury last summer that cost him the entire season. Sanders, though, remains an intriguing athlete at 6-foot-4 and when he’s been healthy, he’s been a dangerous pass-rusher. The question is whether he’s simply missed too much time to make up enough ground to carve out a role in Denver’s rotation, though the number of players in front of him gets smaller if Cooper ends up out of the picture. Joseph has a knack for finding ways to use unique athletes — Sanders logged a sack from a blitz package on the first defensive snap he played late in the 2024 season — so if he can put together a healthy training camp and looks good on special teams, he could still be a factor this fall.
