Tag: linebacker

2 pending free agents in the Super Bowl could interest Broncos

Broncos fans should keep an eye on Eagles LB Zack Baun and Chiefs LB Nick Bolton during the Super Bowl as both are pending free agents.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday and the Denver Broncos — like everyone else — will be watching.

There are two players, in particular, that could catch the attention of Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton on Sunday.

Eagles linebacker Zack Baun and Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton are both scheduled to become free agents in March, and ILB is one of Denver’s key positions of need this offseason.

Baun, 28, was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft while Payton was still coaching in New Orleans. After spending the first four years of his career with the Saints, Baun landed in Philadelphia and he had a breakout season in 2024.

Baun earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod after totaling 151 tackles, five forced fumbles, four pass breakups, 3.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery in 16 starts. He was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award, which was won by Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain.

Bolton, 24, was picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. He recorded 106 tackles, seven quarterback hits, six pass breakups, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one forced fumble in 16 starts last fall.

Baun and Bolton will be names to monitor as we approach NFL free agency following the Super Bowl on Sunday.

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Zack Baun says playing Super Bowl in New Orleans will feel ‘poetic’

Former Saints backup Zack Baun opened up about returning to New Orleans now that he is starring in the Super Bowl for the Eagles:

The New Orleans Saints will be sitting at home on Sunday while a former draft pick leads his team’s defense during Super Bowl LIX. It’s one of the top things on that former players mind.

Zack Baun spent four years as a rotational player with the Saints only to break out into a first team All-Pro linebacker in his first campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles. Baun has not been quiet about his struggles, both on the field and mentally, during his time in New Orleans. Local Eagles writer Michael Greger asked the linebacker what it feels like going back to the city.

“I think it’s poetic. It’s a really cool thing to think about, but it’s not really special until we win,” Baun said about his return. “You know what, you have to soak it in for a little but, then at the end of the day it’s eyes on the prize on the next one. The next game is the most important game because it’s out next game.”

Baun had 151 tackles with 11 going for a loss with four passes broken up and five forced fumbles in his first starring season. He has followed that up with a stellar stretch of play in the postseason.

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Broncos have 3 linebackers signed for 2025 season

With just three inside linebackers under contract, the Broncos need to address the ILB position during the offseason.

With Cody Barton, Justin Strnad and Zach Cunningham all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March, the Denver Broncos only have three inside linebackers under contract for 2025 (and there are caveats).

The most notable ILB signed for next year is veteran Alex Singleton, but is 31 years old and coming off a torn ACL. Singleton is currently scheduled to have a $6.9 million salary cap hit in 2025 and Denver could save $5.58 million if the linebacker is released.

So there’s no guarantee Singleton will still be on the roster next fall. Even if he returns on a reduced salary, Singleton might not return to his pre-injury form.

The second ILB* signed is Drew Sanders, but there’s an asterisk because there’s still uncertainty on whether Sanders will play primarily as an inside or outside linebacker. After returning from injury, he played 18 snaps on defense in four games in 2024 as a rotational linebacker.

The third LB under contract is K.J. Cloyd, who signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January after competing on the practice squad in 2024. Cloyd seems unlikely to be more than a rotational backup and special teams contributor if he makes the active roster in 2025.

It’s clear that the Broncos will need to add at least one starting-caliber inside linebacker this offseason, if not two. Even if the team re-signs Barton, Denver needs to add more talent at the position in 2025.

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Former Broncos linebacker John Huard dies at age 80

John Huard, who played linebacker for the Broncos from 1967-1970, has passed away at age 80.

Former Denver Broncos linebacker John Huard died at age 80 last week, the team confirmed on Monday evening.

After playing college football at Maine, Huard was picked by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. He started 41 of a possible 42 games in his first three seasons in Denver, totaling six interceptions (tackles and sacks were not tracked as stats during that era).

After a knee injury sidelined him for the 1970 season, Huard joined the New Orleans Saints in 1971. After two seasons in New Orleans, he spent time with the New England Patriots before joining the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes in 1972. Following two seasons in Canada, Huard transitioned to coaching.

He returned to his alma mater as an offensive line coach in 1974 before later coaching at a Canadian college, in the USFL, at the Maine Maritime Academy and in the CFL. His final season as a coach was with the Toronto Argonauts in 2000.

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Steelers can’t ignore potential ‘next T.J. Watt’ in 2025 NFL Draft

UCLA’s Femi Oladejo could be a steal in the 2025 NFL Draft and a potential successor to T.J. Watt.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have glaring needs looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft—wide receiver, defensive line, cornerback, and running back, to name a few.

However, 2024 painted an unpleasant picture the Black and Gold must face heading into the 2025 offseason—what will life look like without T.J. Watt?

It’s an intimidating question to ponder—almost as frightening as watching Watt go sackless in four straight games to end the 2024 season—and just scary enough to justify ignoring one or two of those aforementioned positions to solve tomorrow’s problem.

That’s where UCLA EDGE Femi Oladejo comes into play—a Senior Bowl standout who switched from ILB to edge rusher during the 2024 season and is expected to be one of the biggest mid- to late-round steals.

His 2024 numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet—4.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, and 57 combined tackles—but no one can deny the raw talent he possesses since switching over to EDGE.

HC Mike Tomlin lives for developing these types of players, and if the team can do so properly, Oladejo could very well be Watt’s successor.

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Broncos added 3 players after last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl

The Broncos signed three players who participated in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl, including LB Levelle Bailey and RB Blake Watson.

The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl will be played in Arlington, Texas tonight and the Denver Broncos will undoubtedly have scouts in attendance.

Last year’s all-star game included an impressive group of running backs headlined by Jonathon Brooks, Tyrone Tracy, Isaac Guerendo, Carson Steele, Frank Gore Jr. and Blake Watson.

Following the 2024 NFL draft, Denver signed Watson as a college free agent. He ended up dressing for two games as a rookie and rushed four times for 10 yards and two first downs.

The Broncos also signed linebacker Levelle Bailey after the draft. Bailey led the West team with four tackles in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. He also broke up a pass. Bailey dressed for 10 games last fall and totaled five tackles while also playing 52% of the snaps on special teams.

Additionally, Denver signed safety Omar Brown last spring after he recorded two tackles in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Brown ended up not making the Broncos’ roster in a crowded safety room, but he now plays for the Green Bay Packers.

To view the rosters for the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, click here.

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Broncos dismiss ILBs coach Greg Manusky (and more coaching staff updates)

The Broncos have parted ways with ILBs coach Greg Manusky. Denver now has multiple positions to fill on Sean Payton’s staff.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has fired inside linebackers coach Greg Manusky, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported on Tuesday. The news has since been confirmed by KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis and others.

Manusky, 58, has spent time with six NFL teams, serving as Denver’s ILBs coach over the last two seasons. He is the second coach Payton has fired this offseason, joining ex-special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica.

The Broncos will now have to fill or reshuffle at least four spots on Payton’s staff this offseason. Denver has openings at ST coordinator, ILB coach, pass game coordinator and tight ends coach.

John Morton, the Broncos’ old passing game coordinator, left the team to become the new offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. Denver’s old tight ends coach, Declan Doyle, also left to become OC of the Chicago Bears.

The Broncos could also lose assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo, who has drawn interest from multiple times, including the New York Jets.

One of the open positions has a clear frontrunner. If he does not get the full-time head coach job with the New Orleans Saints, Darren Rizzi “is in line” to become Denver’s next ST coach.

We will track the team’s upcoming coaching staff moves on Broncos Wire.

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Chiefs LB Nick Bolton isn’t surprised by the Bills success this season: ‘They did a great job’

Kansas City #Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton isn’t surprised by the Buffalo #Bills success this season: ‘They did a great job’ | @EdEastonJr

The Buffalo Bills made multiple roster changes in the offseason after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s divisional round. Their improved record and immediate AFC Championship game appearance surprised many critics, except for their opponent on Sunday.

Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton believes the Bills were always contenders regardless of the change in personnel. During his press conference on Wednesday, he credited the front office and coaching staff.

“Quite honestly, not for me; they got a great offensive coordinator, head coach, front office, guys, they did a great job of filling their holes and filling their needs as the season started and then came, got some guys in before the deadline,” said Bolton. “So they did a great job constructing the roster to succeed and allowing the running backs. Quarterback legs are doing a great job without turning the ball over. I’ve been really used to those mistakes. I think they’re the best Since 2012, I think, in turnover margin or something like that. So that’s definitely helped them a lot as well.”

Bolton has been an essential part of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and will have his hands full with the Bills’ high-powered offense. The loss earlier in the season in Buffalo is still fresh in every Chiefs player’s mind going into Sunday.

Sean Payton has tried several times to make this ex-linebacker a coach

Sean Payton has twice tried to hire ex-linebacker Rob Ninkovich as a coach, once with the Saints and once with the Broncos.

Sean Payton has tried to hire former NFL linebacker Rob Ninkovich as a coach multiple times, the two-time Super Bowl champion said during a recent interview with Betway Insider’s Jack Green.

“Sean Payton has contacted me a couple times about working together,” Ninkovich told Green. “One opportunity was with the Saints, and when you have young kids, it’s really difficult to jump into that profession because of the time commitment and the potential for movement.

“When Sean was in Denver, another opportunity popped up for me, and again you have to make sure that everybody’s on the same page because we’re going to do this, we’re going to be all in.”

Ninkovich, 40, started his playing career in New Orleans before a stint with the Miami Dolphins. He then had another stop with the Saints before joining the New England Patriots, who he played for from 2009-2016.

Ninkovich told Green that he coached high school football last year. He didn’t mention it in the interview, but Ninkovich also served as a guest coach at Broncos practice in 2023. Perhaps that is when Payton offered him a role in Denver.

From Zach Strief to Davis Webb to Chris Banjo, Payton is no stranger to hiring former players as coaches, even immediately after they hang up their cleats. Ninkovich has been out of the NFL since 2017, but it sounds like he isn’t quite ready to coach at the pro level. Time will tell if Payton can convince the ex-linebacker to change his mind.

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8 positions of need for Broncos in 2025 NFL draft

The Broncos have several key needs ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Some of them, of course, could be filled during free agency.

The Denver Broncos exceeded expectations in 2024 by making the NFL playoffs with a 10-7 record. After getting bounced in the first round of the postseason, though, the Broncos need to improve the roster to make a deeper run next season.

Here’s an early look at some of the team’s top positions of need ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Denver could address some of these positions during free agency in March before the draft in April.

1. Tight end: The Broncos need a playmaker at the position and Penn State’s Tyler Warren would be a dream target.

2. Safety: Brandon Jones was excellent in 2024, but P.J. Locke struggled in a full-time starting role. Denver should make Locke a rotational defensive back next season and bring in a new starter across from Jones.

3. Running back: The Broncos need more juice at the position and Javonte Williams is set to become a free agent in March. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty probably won’t fall to Denver, but can you imagine if he did?

4. Inside linebacker: Alex Singleton is 31 and coming off a torn ACL. Cody Barton and Justin Strnad are both set to become free agents. The Broncos have needed a cover linebacker for years, and they will likely need to add at least one starting caliber ILB in 2025.

5. Wide receiver: Bo Nix desperately needs more weapons on offense. Too many passes were dropped in 2024 and nobody outside of Marvin Mims was a threat to make a big play on every touch.

6. Defensive line: This will become an even bigger need for Denver if D.J. Jones leaves during free agency. At the very least, the Broncos need to add more depth on the defensive line.

7. Cornerback: Riley Moss struggled down the stretch after returning from a knee injury, but he was excellent early in the season. Moss is likely to start across from Pat Surtain again in 2025, but Denver needs to improve the depth behind them.

8. Outside linebacker: Yes, OLB is on the list even after Nik Bonitto totaled 13.5 sacks in 2024. Bonitto is a great pass rusher, but he’s still not stout enough defending the run. Jonathon Cooper is probably the team’s most well-rounded edge defender, but he’s not an elite pass rusher. The Broncos can probably afford to go into 2025 with the same starters, but an outside linebacker capable of setting the edge would be a useful addition.

Denver could also add competition at center, and they will need a new punter if Riley Dixon is not re-signed during free agency (March 12). The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26.

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