Tag: Dondrea Tillman

5 takeaways from the Broncos’ preseason finale

The Broncos looked good in their preseason finale on Sunday. Here are five quick takeaways from the game.

The Denver Broncos wrapped up preseason with a 38-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Here are five quick takeaways from Denver’s preseason finale.

1. Dondrea Tillman impressed: The ex-UFL pass rusher finished the day with five tackles on defense — two behind the line of scrimmage — two pass breakups (one saved a touchdown) and a tackle on special teams to boot. If there’s not room for Tillman on the 53-man roster, he will undoubtedly be a top candidate for the practice squad.

2. Keidron Smith finds the ball: Smith grabbed an interception in each of the team’s first two preseason games, then he recovered a fumble on Sunday. The Broncos might not have room for five safeties on the active roster, but Smith is giving them a tough decision.

3. The punter competition is a toss-up: Riley Dixon is the incumbent veteran with a larger body of work, but Trenton Gill showed off his strong leg against the Cardinals. Both players got two punts on Sunday — Dixon averaged 45.5 per boot and Gill averaged 61.0 yards per boot (helped by a 73-yard long). Gill is younger and cheaper than Dixon, so he might have a legitimate chance to make the squad.

4. Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Samaje Perine were healthy scratches: The Broncos held out a host of players on Sunday, including nearly all of their starters. Usually, snaps in the fourth preseason are divvied up among bottom-of-the-roster players attempting to make the team. The fact that Humphrey and Perine were both inactive suggests either they are making the team or the Broncos plan to put them on the trade block and didn’t want to risk injury.

5. Three QBs will make the 53-man roster, unless…: After Sunday’s game, Broncos coach Sean Payton essentially confirmed that Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson will all make the active roster. That settles that. Unless it’s an elaborate scheme by Payton in an effort to trade Wilson. We’ll find out for sure when Denver sets a 53-man roster on Tuesday.

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Yes, the Broncos have a player who went to ‘Indiana University of Pennsylvania’

Yes, there’s an Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and they’ve sent players to the NFL. Dondrea Tillman is the latest.

During the Denver Broncos‘ preseason game against the Green Bay Packers last week, the 9News broadcast (that was simulcast on NFL Network) showed a graphic below pass rusher Dondrea Tillman that listed his college as “Indiana University of Pennsylvania.”

It left football fans befuddled.

That’s not a real school, is it?

Yes, it is.

There’s a borough named “Indiana” in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, the location of the college. The school goes by “IUP,” and they’ve sent 16 other players to the NFL.

As for Tillman, he’s had quite a football journey.

The 26-year-old pass rusher spent four years at IUP, earning three All-PSAC West selections. After college, he was out of football for two years before getting an opportunity to play in “The Spring League” in 2021.

After playing one season with the TSL Conquerors, Tillman was drafted by the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions in 2022. He won three straight titles with the Stallions before signing with the Broncos this summer.

Tillman is a long shot to make Denver’s 53-man roster, but he should be a strong candidate for the practice squad.

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Broncos roster series: No. 92, OLB Dondrea Tillman

After winning three straight titles with the Birmingham Stallions, edge defender Dondrea Tillman signed with the Broncos this spring.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at first-year defensive lineman Dondrea Tillman, No. 92.

Before the Broncos: Tillman (6-3, 270 pounds) played Division II college football with the IUP Crimson Hawks, earning consecutive All-PSAC West honors after totaling 21 sacks in his final two seasons. Two years after graduating from college, Tillman stood out in The Spring League in 2021.

Following his performance in The Spring League, Tillman was picked by the Birmingham Stallions in the third round of the 2022 USFL draft. He went on to win three straight titles in the Stallions, two in the USFL and one in the newly formed UFL this spring. Playing as a defensive lineman, he totaled 54 tackles, five sacks, eight quarterback hits, 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 41 QB hurries this spring.

Broncos tenure: Denver signed Tillman to a three-year, $2.84 million contract after the UFL season. He’s transitioning to outside linebacker in the team’s base 3-4 defense.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Longshot. Tillman will face an uphill battle to make the active roster at a crowded position, but he should be a top candidate for the practice squad in 2024.

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Here are the contract details for Broncos’ two recent signings

The Broncos signed Andre Smith to a 1-year deal last week and they will soon sign Dondrea Tillman to a 3-year deal. Here are the details.

The Denver Broncos are set to have added two defenders to their 90-man offseason roster over a one-week period.

Last week, the Broncos signed linebacker Andre Smith to a one-year deal. Smith tried out for the team during mandatory minicamp and beat out six other players who were also vying for a contract.

Smith (6-0, 240 pounds) has played in 62 games, contributing primarily on special teams. His one-year contract is worth $1.125 million, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Thanks to the NFL’s Veteran Salary Benefit rule, Smith’s cap hit in 2024 will be $985,000.

Denver also agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Birmingham Stallions defensive lineman/pass rusher Dondrea Tillman on Wednesday. Tillman passed his physical, but the contract won’t become official until Tillman is released from his UFL deal. That is seemingly just a formality, so Tillman should be able to sign on Thursday.

Tillman’s three-year contract is worth $2.83 million: $795,000 in 2024, $960,000 in 2025 and $1,075,000 in 2026, according to the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. That’s an impressive deal for a UFL player, but only Tillman’s $10,000 signing bonus is guaranteed.

Tillman (6-3, 270 pounds) spent three seasons with the Stallions and won three straight championships (two in the USFL and one in the UFL). He will now get his first chance in the NFL at age 26.

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Broncos signing UFL star Dondrea Tillman to 3-year, $2.84M contract

The Broncos are set to sign Birmingham Stallions star Dondrea Tillman to a 3-year, $2.84 million contract. He dominated the UFL this spring.

Dondrea Tillman’s amazing football journey continues.

The Denver Broncos are signing the Birmingham Stallions defensive lineman to a three-year, $2.84 million contract, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Tillman needs to pass a physical and be released from his UFL contract for the deal to become official, but both are viewed as formalities.

After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2019, Tillman was out of football for two years before a one-season stint in The Spring League with the Conquerors in 2021.

Tillman (6-3, 270 pounds) stood out in The Spring League and was later picked by the Birmingham Stallions in the third round of the 2022 USFL draft. He won two straight USFL titles in Birmingham, and following the USFL-XFL merger, Tillman won a third title in the UFL’s inaugural season this spring.

Tillman was the UFL’s highest-graded defender by Pro Football Focus in 2024 (93.6). PFF credited him with 54 tackles, five sacks, eight quarterback hits, 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 41 QB hurries.

Tillman is a bit of a tweener — he’s at least 15 pounds lighter than defensive ends Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers but 30 pounds heavier than outside linebackers Baron Browning and Nik Bonitto. If he’s going to play as an OLB in Denver’s base 3-4 defense, the Broncos will likely ask him to lose some weight.

Denver will need to make a corresponding move to make room for Tillman on the 90-man offseason roster. The 26-year-old defender will report for training camp next month.

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Broncos expected to sign UFL defensive lineman Dondrea Tillman

The Broncos are expected to sign DL Dondrea Tillman. He totaled 92 tackles and 8.5 sacks and won three championships with the Stallions.

Story update: Dondrea Tillman will arrive in Denver in the late afternoon/early evening on Tuesday and will work out for the team and take a physical exam on Wednesday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. See our original post below. 

The Denver Broncos are bringing in Birmingham Stallions defensive lineman Dondrea Tillman for a workout on Tuesday and the 26-year-old defender is “expected to sign,” according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

Wilson later tweeted late Monday evening that Tillman’s signing will become official on Tuesday. Denver will have to make a corresponding move to make room for Tillman on the 90-man offseason roster.

Tillman (6-3, 270 pounds) played one season in The Spring League in 2021 after graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2019. He was drafted by the Stallions in the third round of the 2022 USFL draft.

Tillman spent the last three years in Birmingham, winning three straight championships. Following the merger of the USFL and XFL, Tillman totaled 26 tackles and three sacks in the newly-formed UFL this spring. He recorded 92 tackles and 8.5 sacks over the last three seasons.

Tillman will join a defensive line room in Denver that already features Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach.

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