Elliss to Linebacker: Broncos' Bold Move

0:00On April 1st, Sean Payton dropped a bombshell at the NFL owners' meetings in Arizona, saying third-round pick, Jonah Ellis, will see some linebacker, snaps this off-season. Ellis came in as an edge-rusher from Utah, but with depth there, they're testing him inside, which puts pressure on fellow third-rounder Drew Sanders. From last year, Payton drew from his Saints days, mentioning Ellis' brother, Caden, and Zach Bond, both edge-guys who flipped to linebacker and thrived. He sees similar smarts and toughness in Jonah, plus the Broncos have room to experiment without hurting their edge rotation. Fans are pushing back hard, questioning if defensive coordinator Vance Joseph can make another hybrid work after struggles with guys like Baron. Browning and Isaiah Simmons, Sanders flipped positions in college too, but injuries have kept him off the field most of his first two seasons. Ellis brings elite speed, range, and instincts that fit off-ball linebacker, and the new kickoff rules could be a perfect proving ground for blocking, and tackling skills.

1:02Payton name drops like Warner, show he's betting big on this switch. For Sanders, entering his final rookie year, this spells trouble with Ellis locked in for two more. The Broncos might draft linebackers in 2026 anyway, so he's fighting an uphill battle to stick around.