Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos have one of the best defenses in the National Football League. Though their overall potential for greatness in 2025 may hinge on the health and productivity of their inside linebacking corps.
The Denver Broncos defense was impressive in 2024. Their penchant for sacks and forcing turnovers helped propel to franchise to their first playoff berth in a decade. However, I believe they have the potential to be special and even better this coming season.
Sporting a top-notch secondary, formidable defensive line, and talented group of edge rushers, the Broncos are poised to be one of the National Football League’s best units. However, the position group that might make or break how great they can become is at inside linebacker.
It’s a talented unit but concerns surrounding the health of the presumptive starters make the group’s potential hard to project. If there is a position group that has the most boom or bust potential on the team’s roster—this would be it. Let’s take a deeper look at the group of players vying for playing time at inside linebacker.
2025 Denver Broncos Inside Linebacker Review
Dre Greenlaw — Big Ticket Free Agency Starter
With Cody Barton departing in free agency and lingering concerns over the overall depth and talent at the position, the Broncos made a splash in free agency to bolster the unit. They signed former San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a three-year contract worth $35 million dollars.
The Broncos are hoping the injury woes are behind the veteran linebacker. In 2024, he played in just two games after experiencing complications from a torn Achilles suffered late in Super Bowl LVIII. Though in 2022 and 2023, Greenlaw graded out as one of the best inside linebackers in the league and accrued over 120 tackles in those two seasons.
If healthy, Greenlaw could be the player that helps the Broncos’ defense become transformative in ‘25. Though that’s a big if—as he has never played a full season in his career. When at his best, he’s a versatile defender that excels in coverage which would be a big upgrade for the team’s defense.
Alex Singleton — Recovering from Injury / Starter
After productive seasons in ‘22 and ‘23 with the Broncos, Alex Singleton was poised for a big year in ‘24. Unfortunately, he suffered a significant knee (ACL) injury early on in the season and is still recovering. Entering the final year of his contract, the 32-year-old veteran is hoping to show he can revert back to prior form.
When healthy, Singleton is a viable starter that is always around the action making plays. In my opinion is at his best defending the run. However, he needs to improve on his missed tackle rate which has been a concern over the course of his career. With respect to coverage, I would classify his abilities there as average, but his deficiencies in that regard are somewhat masked with the addition of Greenlaw.
If healthy, I expect Singleton to...
