Denver Broncos Could Land Free Agent All-Pro Linebacker

Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos have had a busy offseason, but are still hopeful that they can find a way to compete in a stacked AFC conference. After moving on from quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos brought in Bo Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Denver also opted to trade former first-round pick Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns this offseason.

The Broncos have undergone a lot of change this offseason. However, they may not be done tinkering with their roster.

According to Bleacher Report, the Broncos are a realistic potential landing spot for free agent veteran linebacker Shaquille Leonard. Just a couple of short years ago, Leonard was considered one of the top linebackers in the NFL.

“Shaquille Leonard has struggled to get back to form due to back injuries. However, the Broncos could offer an interesting place for him to try. Cody Barton and Alex Singleton are the projected starters at this point.”

Should The Denver Broncos Sign Shaquille Leonard?

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts made the tough decision to release Leonard during the season. He was a fan favorite and had been a cornerstone for the franchise for years. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career and the Colts had better players that he was taking playing time from.

After looking around the league, he chose to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Eagles, he played in five games. He compiled 23 total tackles and a sack in those appearances.

Granted, the numbers he put up with the Eagles were not great. However, he did show that he can still make an impact. Late in free agency, this is the kind of move that makes sense for any team trying to compete.

At 28 years old, there is still time for Leonard to turn his NFL career back around. In the right situation, he could very well find his footing once again. If the Broncos can sign him and not depend on him to be an integral part of their defense right off the bat, they could work him slowly into the mix and get great return on their investment for the likely one-year deal that they would sign Leonard to.

To answer the question, yes, the Broncos should take a chance on Leonard. He’s not going to cost much and he could be a high impact player if he gets fully healthy. Health has been the only thing that has held him back.

It will be interesting to see which team opts to give Leonard another chance. He still has some good football left in the tank, assuming injuries stay way from him. The Denver Broncos would be wise to take a one-year flier on him and see what kind of production they can get from the former superstar.