What would Jonah Elliss at inside linebacker look like?

All it took was one off-hand comment from Sean Payton to set of plenty of speculation around Denver Broncos linebacker Jonah Elliss.

We’ve dedicated quite a bit to our roundup to end the week around what that might mean. Normally, I tend to hate when edge rushers are moved inside. Often the result equates to a player not good enough to play at either position, but there are examples of this switch working out well.

It will depend on how Elliss is used. I do not think he’ll come in and be a coverage-type inside linebacker. Instead, I think he’ll be used inside to create additional pressure variations for opposing offenses to deal with. Elliss has pass rush ability and moving him inside would give him a lot more flexibility in that role as opposed to just being an outside rusher.

Vance Joseph has proven he has some very creative and successful pressure schemes with the Broncos defense leading the league in sacks in back-to-back seasons. I’m actually curious to see how Elliss getting snaps inside might add a new wrinkle to an already dominant pressure defense.

Broncos daily recap

The big thing we’ve got going on is the draft interest tracker. Scotty Payne is all over every rumor and report going around the Broncos during their draft preparation.

2026 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos draft interest tracker
With the draft less than a month away, MHR is tracking every reported meeting, interview, and top-30 visit the Broncos have had with college prospects this offseason. The list spans all-star games, the Scouting Combine, Pro Days, and facility visits. Among the notable names brought in: Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers, Boston College OT Jude Bowry, Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon (a projected first or early second-rounder), Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher, and TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr. It’s a useful roadmap for where Denver’s draft board might be leaning as the picks reshape post-Waddle trade.

Broncos brass united in excitement after Jaylen Waddle blockbuster
From the top down, Denver’s leadership is all-in on the Waddle trade. CEO Greg Penner told reporters at the league meetings that the organization came into the offseason “prepared to be aggressive if we thought that there was an opportunity.” President Damani Leech echoed the excitement, noting the buzz has extended well beyond the building — from texts within the front office to board members at community events praising the direction of the football program. It’s a clear signal that ownership, Paton, and Payton are aligned: the window is open, and they’re not being shy about it.

Potent quotables

Head Coach Sean Payton began the talk of moving Jonah Elliss inside when he mentioned we’ll see Elliss “take some snaps inside” when asked about Dre Greenlaw. The follow-up question was even more enlightening.

On releasing 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw and the plan at inside linebacker

“That was a tough one. Here is why: he is so passionate. In my career as a coach, I’ve been lucky enough to coach a lot of passionate players that love the game. I’m always disappointed internally that that didn’t work out because I love that player. I love how he competes. I love all the things he brings. You feel somewhat responsible when it doesn’t work out. We knew it would take a little bit of time with [ILB] Alex [Singleton] and [ILB] Justin [Strnad]. You’re going to see [OLB Jonah] Elliss take some snaps inside. That is something that we have discussed relative to our depth at the edge. Then we will see where that goes during the draft. Those aren’t fun when you re-sign your own players, and I understand… But when we look at the puzzle, you have to take the red magnets that are [unrestricted free agents] and put them off the depth chart, then begin to address the ‘musts’, ‘needs’ and ‘wants’.”

On OLB Jonah Elliss getting snaps at inside linebacker

“It’s the decision to give him snaps going forward. Skill set, it’s a position where we are wanting—I drafted his brother [Saints LB Kaden Elliss]. The same thing happened with [Eagles LB] Zack Baun, only we couldn’t get Zack Baun on the field. Now Philadelphia managed to. It was really looking at your assets, and we know that he is smart, tough and he has all the… Sometimes, that inside backer position—one of the best in our league at San Francisco in [49ers LB] Fred Warner, you saw him play more out in space, outside backer. Sometimes you have to look at the skill set, and then project where you think it can go, and your depth on the edge that allows you to do something like that. We will have a chance to visit with him on it.”