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<\/a><\/p>\nDENVER, CO – DECEMBER 21: Zach Allen #99 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on December 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n
Zach Allen has been one of the defense\u2019s most consistent players since he joined the Broncos in 2023. He\u2019s the kind of interior lineman every team wants on the roster who is able to bring consistent pressure and rarely loses ground in a one-on-one engagement.<\/p>\n
Allen\u2019s greatest strength is his endurance and energy reserve. He\u2019s on the field for most snaps and leads the unit by a large margin. The quality of play doesn\u2019t drop from him as the game wears on.<\/p>\n
He\u2019a an All-Pro for a reason and is an absolute menace to opposing quarterbacks with 7 sacks and a whopping 47 quarterback hits in 2025.<\/p>\n
DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 4: D.J. Jones #93 of the Denver Broncos looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High on January 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n D.J. Jones came to the Broncos by way of the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. He\u2019s been a foundational starter for this defense and an absolute beast of a nose tackle for Vance Joseph.<\/p>\n Nose tackle isn\u2019t ever going to be a flashy position, as many times the role for a player like Jones is to demand attention and hold space without giving up ground. That creates opportunities for players around him to make plays. Jones has a storied track record as a starter and is a consummate pro.<\/p>\n DENVER, CO – JANUARY 17: Denver Broncos defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (97) celebrates as he walks off the field after a win against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round game at Empower Field at Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n Malcolm Roach was brought to the Broncos from the Saints roster in 2023 to help shore up the Broncos\u2019 run-stopping ability on defense. He\u2019s well able to contribute as a pass rusher as well and has had an impressive run with the Broncos that recently earned him a contract extension.<\/p>\n Roach has been a fantastic rotational player for the team and a run-stopping force up front. Against the pass, he\u2019s chipped in 4 sacks and 5 quarterback hits as a rotational player. The scheme the Broncos run is designed in a way that lets any position up front be productive. Roach is a testament to that, given that he\u2019s superb vs the run and has been impressively productive as a pass rusher as well in his time with the Broncos.<\/p>\n DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 04: Eyioma Uwazurike #96 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack in the fourth quarter at Empower Field At Mile High on January 04, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Eyioma Uwazurike, in my mind, has been the long-term plan exactly for this season, where the Broncos are very likely to lose the talents of John Franklin-Myers. JFM is going to be looking for a sack of money (which is well deserved). Uwazurike has been coached to step into that role in 2026.<\/p>\n Uwazurike was a rotational force for the defense in 2025. Like practically every defensive lineman on the team, he produced vs the run and the pass. He\u2019s a player who has done nothing but get better at his craft every season, and from what I see is ready to challenge for a starting role next season with the team.<\/p>\n This group is full of talent, and this scheme lets every guy across the line have an impact from game to game. The defensive line is well-coached, and they have done an excellent job of finding talent and rotational depth.<\/p>\n I think John Franklin-Myers is going to get paid by someone else this offseason. That\u2019s the only reason I have dinged the unit rating. If he were still under contract, this group is an easy 5. I do think the Broncos are ready for this loss, though. They will likely bring in another young player or depth free agent into the fray in the offseason. The core of the line is in place and ready to take on the challenge of 2026.<\/p>\n PlayerSnapsTkl (combined)SacksTFLQb HitsPass DefendedInterceptionsNik Bonitto7744614142820Jonathan Cooper79250881640Dondrea Tillman4754143932Jonah Ellis378282.55510Que Robinson162120.53310 DENVER , CO – JANUARY 4: Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos waves to fans after the Broncos\u2019 19-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, January 4, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post) Denver Post via Getty Images<\/p>\n Nik Bonitto is a superstar NFL edge. He\u2019s a playmaker who wins games and consistently threatens offenses, which warps how opponents have to game plan.<\/p>\n The freaky thing is that I think he could have more stats than he already has. He\u2019s a true team player through and through who is just as comfortable dropping into coverage as he is blazing around tackles for a quick sack.<\/p>\n Talent-wise, this All-Pro is as good as it gets in the NFL.<\/p>\n DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 07: Jonathon Cooper #0 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack against Cam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter during the game at Empower Field At Mile High on September 07, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Jonathan Cooper is the powerhouse workhorse at the edge for this defense. He\u2019s not quite as bendy and quick around the edge as Bonitto, but he makes up for it in raw power. His bull rush one-on-one is extremely difficult to stop. Many times, linemen are getting sacks because of a collapsed pocket due to Cooper just driving his guy back relentlessly.<\/p>\n Cooper also drops into coverage without problem at times. He\u2019s only dinged \u00bd a point because his pass rush doesn\u2019t have as much nuance to it as Bonitto\u2019s, which leads to scenarios where he\u2019ll have a matchup that is well-equipped to slow him down.<\/p>\n KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 25: Dondrea Tillman #92 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Dondrea Tillman is a player who rotates in at the edge, and you hardly even notice. He\u2019s a gifted athlete who has a superb grasp of how to impact plays when he is on the field. I\u2019d honestly count him as a perfect outside linebacker rotational player, much like I saw Shaq Barrett when he was with the Broncos behind Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.<\/p>\n DENVER, CO – JANUARY 25: Jonah Elliss #52 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the field during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Jonah Ellis is nipping at Tillman\u2019s heels for being the best non-starting edge on this team. He\u2019s developed into a superb backer for the Broncos. I\u2019ve liked his play against the run a bit better than what I\u2019ve seen from Tillman. His pass-rush ability is still potent, though, and I don\u2019t think he\u2019s yet to hit his ceiling.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n