15 Free-Agent ILBs Broncos can Target to Upgrade Defense
It's not unusual to hear Denver Broncos fans pine for a top off-ball linebacker. This refrain can be traced back to opposing tight ends having their way with the Broncos' defense.
However, the off-ball linebacker position is not one to commit big money unless you are talking about the truly elite. Furthermore, the Broncos have gotten quality play out of the likes of Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, who are on much cheaper deals.
Singleton will be a free agent, though, and could be seeking a bigger payday. If he gets one, the Broncos will need to look for a replacement. Even if he stays with Denver, the Broncos could upgrade the depth.
Here's a look at the off-ball linebackers who played at least 60% of the defensive snaps in 2022. Keep in mind there are plenty of linebackers who saw a lot of playing time this year, so you won't see every player hitting free agency on this list.
Lavonte David | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
David is one of the better off-ball linebackers in the NFL. Though he may not be the same player he was in his prime, he's still effective, with 124 tackles, three sacks, and five passes defensed in 2022.
The Buccaneers signed David to a two-year deal in 2021 with three void years for cap purposes. Though the Bucs have some cap problems, they might still extend him, which would mean the three void years don't accelerate onto the 2023 cap.
If the Bucs don't re-sign David, it's tempting to think about him. However, he'll be 33 years old next season, and there's no telling how many years he has left. Is it really worth risking $12M APY or more on him?
Devin Bush | Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers traded up with the Broncos in the 2019 NFL draft to select Bush. He showed a lot of promise as a rookie, with four passes defensed, 109 tackles, and one sack.
However, Bush suffered a torn ACL in Week 6 of the 2020 season. He's never been the same player since. The Steelers declined his fifth-year option and don't appear to have an interest in keeping him.
Bush will be just 25 years old next season, though. He is an ideal candidate for a one-year 'prove it' deal. While he shouldn't be your first choice in free agency, you don't rule him out as long as he understands he has to take a one-year deal.
Tremaine Edmunds | Buffalo Bills
The Bills selected Edmunds with the 16th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He had a great rookie season with 121 tackles, 12 passes defended, and two sacks.
Edmunds has remained a productive player since his rookie season. He did miss five games this season with injuries, but he still surpassed 100 tackles.
However, should Edmunds hit free agency, he's likely to get a lot of money. Like Bush, Edmunds will be just 25 years old next season. That means he'll likely have plenty of suitors.
Kyzir White | Philadelphia Eagles
A fourth-round by the Chargers in the 2018 draft, White spent most of his seasons as a depth player. He did start all 17 games in 2021 and had 144 tackles, one sack, and three passes defensed.
White signed with the Eagles in 2022 and was active for all 17 games with eight starts. He had seven passes defensed and surpassed 100 tackles.
White is probably best suited as a depth player, though he can start when necessary. That means he's not likely to demand a lot of money in a contract.
Nicholas Morrow | Chicago Bears
Morrow signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He's mostly been a depth player, though he started 29 games, 11 of them in the 2020 season.
The Raiders kept Morrow on a one-year deal in 2021, but he missed the season because of injuries. He signed a one-year deal with the Bears for 2022, started all 17 games, and had his best season as a pro with 116 tackles and two passes defensed.
Morrow could be looking for a bigger payday for 2023. He'll be 28 years old, and he may not get more chances for a big contract. He did good things this past season, but you must be careful about what you give him in a contract.
Elandon Roberts | Miami Dolphins
Roberts spent his first four NFL seasons with the Patriots. He had 10 passes defensed and 457 tackles in 60 games, 33 of them starts.
Roberts joined the Dolphins in 2020 and, in three seasons, started 43 of 47 games and tallied four passes defensed and 251 tackles, including 107 this past season.
Roberts is a decent but not great starter, so he's not the type of player you want to sign to a big contract. A two-year deal that doesn't come with a lot of guaranteed money may be your best bet with him.
Alex Anzalone | Detroit Lions
Anzalone spent his first four seasons with the Saints, serving mostly as a depth player. He then joined the Lions and earned a starting job.
He started 14 games in 2021 and tallied 78 tackles with seven passes defensed. This past season, he was even better, starting all 17 games and getting 125 tackles with six passes defensed.
However, Anzalone will be 29 years old next season. Like Morrow, he might seek a big payday before his chances run out. Again, you need to be careful how much you pay him.
T.J. Edwards | Philadelphia Eagles
Edwards went undrafted and signed with the Eagles in 2019. He was a depth player in his first season, then became a starter in 2020.
He's started 43 games the past three seasons with 13 passes defensed, 359 tackles, and five sacks. This past season was his best as a pro, with seven passes defended and 159 tackles.
Edwards will be 27 years old next season and could be another linebacker seeking a big payday. Though he's not at the level of Edmunds, it wouldn't surprise me if he's among the higher-paid linebackers in free agency.
Leighton Vander Esch | Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys selected Vander Esch with the 19th overall pick in the draft. He had a quality rookie season with seven passes defensed and 140 tackles.
The next three seasons, though, Vander Esch didn't reach those heights. He missed parts of 2019 and 2020 with injuries, prompting the Cowboys to decline his fifth-year option. Vander Esch then started 16 games in 2021 and had 77 tackles, then signed a one-year deal to stay with the Cowboys.
Vander Esch had 90 tackles this past season and played better overall. It's possible he could be in line for a bigger payday. However, you have to ask yourself if he can maintain his level of play or if he'll regress to his level of play in 2021.
Rashaan Evans | Atlanta Falcons
The Titans selected Evans with the 22nd overall pick of the 2018 draft. He showed promise in his second season in the NFL, registering 111 tackles, then had 96 tackles with five passes defensed in 2020.
But the Titans decided against picking up his fifth-year option and in 2021, he missed five games, and his level of play dropped. He signed a one-year deal with the Falcons and played well with 159 tackles, two sacks, and four passes defensed.
Evans is another player that carries risk. He's shown he can do good things, but he's lacked consistency throughout his career. If you consider him, you're better off with a two-year deal that doesn't commit a lot of money.
Germaine Pratt | Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals selected Pratt in the third round of the 2019 draft. He started nine games as a rookie and had 76 tackles.
He then earned a starting job in 2020 and has been a starter ever since. Pratt has tallied 279 tackles and 14 passes defensed in three seasons. Of those pass breakups, he had 10 in 2022.
Given his improvement during the past three seasons, it wouldn't surprise if Pratt seeks a big payday. He's not at the level of Edmunds, though, so you do have to be careful how much you pay him.
Cody Barton | Seattle Seahawks
A third-round pick by the Seahawks in 2019, Barton spent his first three years as a depth player, but got more involved in the defense in 2022 with 11 starts.
He had a solid 2022 campaign with six passes defensed, two sacks and 136 tackles. While not a top player at his position, Barton has proven he can be effective.
A two-year, low-cost deal is probably best for Barton. His limited number of starts means he's not somebody you want to give a big contract, but he has shown improvement in his time in the NFL.
Bobby Okereke | Indianapolis Colts
Another 2019 draft pick, the Colts took Okereke in the third round. He started eight games as a rookie and eight in his second season in the NFL.
Okereke then started all 17 games in 2021 and had four passes defensed and 132 tackles. He took more responsibilities in 2022 because of Shaq Leonard's injuries and had five passes defensed with 151 tackles.
Okereke is another linebacker who isn't at the level of Edmunds, but he's improved in the past couple of seasons. He might be one of those players who doesn't hit the top of the market, but comes close to doing so.
Quincy Williams | New York Jets
The Jaguars selected Williams in the third round of the 2019 draft. He played two seasons, starting eight games as a rookie, but he wasn't effective, and the Jaguars waived him prior to the start of the 2021 season.
Williams joined the Jets and started 13 games in 2021, then 15 games in 2022. He's talled 216 tackles with six passes defensed in those seasons.
Williams could be another player seeking to capitalize on the market, given his play over the past two seasons. However, it's fair to ask whether he's a product of Robert Saleh's defensive schemes and, thus, not really worth big money.
Drue Tranquill | Los Angeles Chargers
A fourth-round pick in 2019, Tranquill was mostly a depth player in his first three seasons and missed nearly all of the 2020 season with a broken ankle.
Tranquill is coming off his best season as a pro, though. He started 16 games, totaling 146 tackles, five sacks, and four passes defensed.
The question to ask is how good Tranquill really is. He may be another player who is a product of a coach's system. You should think carefully before giving him a big contract.
Bottom Line
If you really want the Broncos to pursue an off-ball linebacker in free agency, you have to tread carefully. There's a real chance that some of these players get big contracts, particularly if Edmunds gets paid a lot and other teams react to that contract.
The Broncos are actually better off letting the market settle down and looking for value. Bringing back Singleton is an option, but the Broncos could also sign Bush to a cheap one-year deal and see how he fares.
Simply put, this may be a season in which crazy money gets thrown around in free agency at this position. The Broncos would be wise not to overpay for the first player they see, be patient, and find a solid player at a lower cost.
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
