The Denver Broncos have a great defense, and one of the calling cards of such a standout defense is the team’s dominant pass-rushing room.

Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper are great pass rushers, and there’s no chance for a different pass rusher to take over at either starting spot in 2026 and beyond.

Amid such a situation, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz is urging the Broncos to trade away a 2024 draft pick, 22-year-old 2024 draft pick Jonah Elliss, who’s buried on the depth chart behind Cooper and Bonitto.

Broncos urged to trade away Jonah Elliss amid crowded pass rusher room

“This is not an issue of a player who has not properly developed,” Schatz writes. “Instead, Elliss is a talented young pass rusher who doesn’t have a path to start behind veterans Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper.”

The Broncos could hold onto Elliss as a depth pass rusher, as the 2024 third-round draft pick would be some high-quality pass rusher depth.

But, after playing just 38% of the snaps on defense last year, the Broncos might be better off trading him away for a decent return.

At just 22 years old, and with two more years of control left on his rookie deal, plus the promise he’s shown already in his career, with 7.5 sacks in two seasons with the Broncos, trading Elliss might bring home a solid return for the Broncos.

More: Broncos predicted to replace J.K. Dobbins with trade for 5-time Pro Bowl running back

While they might not land a pick earlier than the third round, if they can package Elliss to land something solid in return, even if it’s a player in a trade, then it’d be worth it for the Broncos.

With Bonitto and Cooper atop the edge rusher room, Elliss doesn’t have a path to the significant playing time he deserves.

A team in need of pass rusher help could use Elliss, and for teams strapped for cap space, he’s the perfect trade target to add a starter-caliber pass rusher to their defense.

Schatz is urging the Broncos to trade away Elliss to give him a change of scenery. After just two seasons, the Broncos might be better off trading their 2024 third-round pick to bring home some value to help elsewhere on the roster.

More Broncos news: