The Denver Broncos decided to bring back one of their own before the free-agent signing period even starts. On Sunday, the team came to terms on a new three-year deal with linebacker Justin Strnad.
The Broncos need to focus on bringing in offensive weapons this offseason, but heading into free agency, the inside linebacker position contained the most questions. The Broncos have now answered one of those. So what's next?
Re-signing Strnad gives the team some flexibility. The Broncos can now look at the outside market before deciding the fate of veteran linebacker Alex Singleton. It appears, at least for now, that the team will give Dre Greenlaw a second year with the organization despite him missing a large chunk of the 2025 season.
Singleton would be a fine backup plan for the team if it can't find the right deal, but the Broncos need to look at some of the options out there.
Nakobe Dean would be a perfect addition to the Broncos in free agency
Nakobe Dean is apparently going to test free agency before re-signing with the Philadelphia Eagles.
A third-round pick in 2022 out of Georgia, many analysts felt that Dean had first-round talent. He missed the beginning of the 2025 season after tearing a tendon in his knee in the playoffs following the 2024 season, but he still had 55 tackles and four sacks last season. The year before, he registered 128 tackles, which was second-highest on the team.
Nakobe D̶e̶a̶n̶ Mean 😡
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— NFL (@NFL) November 25, 2024
He's regarded as one of the better players in coverage at the inside linebacker position, and that should be music to the ears of Broncos fans, as that has long been an issue. That is an area where Singleton struggles.
Dean is seven years younger than Singleton and Spotrac estimates the deal that he will sign to be about $7.9 million annually, lower than Kaden Elliss, Bobby Okereke, Tremaine Edmunds and Devin Lloyd.
This is a move that makes a lot of sense for the Broncos, as Dean has also been the captain of a solid Eagles defense by wearing the green dot and helping to call the defense on the field. He would pair well with Greenlaw and the team would have Strnad, a capable fill in, at the ready.
Prediction: Broncos sign Nakobe Dean to a three-year, $26.5 million contract