Von Miller hasn’t been a Denver Bronco since midway through the 2021 season, but that doesn’t keep people from lobbying for his return.
The latest was his former teammate, tight end Julius Thomas.
A fellow member of the 2011 draft class, Thomas joined Kay Adams on her “Up and Adams” show Tuesday morning and made a pitch for the Broncos to bring the Super Bowl 50 MVP back after three-and-a-half seasons away.
“So, Broncos, bring back Von,” Thomas said.
What can we expect out of Von Miller on any team?@heykayadams | @Julius_Thomas pic.twitter.com/fB3GOhA6tH
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 13, 2025
The Buffalo Bills waived Miller in March after three seasons. Denver traded Miller to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. But over the years, Miller has continued to express fondness and love towards the Broncos and their fans.
“Does Von have a couple of great rushes in him a game? Absolutely. Now, does he need to play 60 snaps? I don’t know. That’s up to them. That’s up to Von.
“But do I think he can still get to the quarterback? Sure.”
However, it’s not a question of whether Von Miller is good enough.
NOTION OF BRINGING VON MILLER BACK CRASHES AGAINST ROSTER REALITY
Roster-construction realities make the notion of a Von Miller reunion — at least with him as a player — implausible.
The Broncos have a second-team All-Pro edge rusher in Nik Bonitto whose contract status is expected to be a focal point of the coming months. They have another starting edge, Jonathon Cooper, who received a four-year contract extension last November; in 2024, Cooper posted the first double-digit sack season of his career.
Denver used two mid-round draft picks on edge rushers in the last two drafts — Jonah Elliss in last year’s third round and Que Robinson in this year’s fourth round.
Elliss shared rotational edge duties with Dondrea Tillman, a second-year player the team added from the UFL last season. Tillman so effective last year that he ranked among the NFL’s top 20 edge rushers in both pressure rate and QB hit rate despite having virtually no offseason, as he went straight from the Birmingham Stallions to the Broncos.
Bonitto, Elliss and Tillman did so well that the Broncos felt comfortable trading Baron Browning at midseason after he returned from injured reserve.
Throw Robinson into the mix, and the room appears full, even before considering those who are likely to compete for practice-squad spots.
GROWTH EXPECTED FROM YOUNG PLAYERS, SO WHERE’S THE PLAYING TIME FOR A VON MILLER?
Von Miller being on the roster would take snaps from players like Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman.
And with the potential arrival of any veteran who takes snaps from a young player, a pertinent question must be asked: Is this wise?
After all, more snaps will typically improve a youthful prospect’s form. The Broncos saw that from Bonitto. And as general manager George Paton noted March 31, that sort of leap could happen for Elliss.
“No doubt. Look at Nik Bonitto,” Paton said. “Last year at this time did we think Nik Bonitto would be an All-Pro player? I don’t think anyone would have said that.
“… A lot of these guys, some get it in the second year, some get it in the third year. You can’t be overly patient, but you just have to keep developing your young players.”
The idea of bringing back Von Miller might tug at the warm fuzziness of memories for Broncos Country, but it runs headlong into the logic and wisdom of developing players who can help for the present and the future.
Miller would make sense if the Broncos have an injury or two among their edge rushers.
But if it’s as a player, there simply isn’t room for him, no matter how much the notion might tug at the heartstrings.