Denver Broncos
· 2026-07-03
The Denver Broncos are expected to address their inside linebacker concerns in the 2027 NFL draft by selecting Clemson's Sammy Brown with their 1st round pick.
The team's current starters, Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, are likely to be average or slightly above average, which may not be enough for the team's future plans.
The Broncos previously signed free agent inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a 3-year, $31.5 million contract, but he was released after one season due to a torn Achilles tendon.
Sammy Brown is a 6-foot-2, 235-pound inside linebacker from Clemson who was a 5-star recruit and the No. 5 overall recruit in the nation for the Class of 2024.
Brown's father, former Furman running back Mark Brown, was his head coach in high school, and he has been compared to longtime NFL linebacker Myles Jack.
In 14 games as a true freshman in 2024, Brown had 80 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 11.5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections, earning him the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year award.
In 13 games in 2025, Brown had 106 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 13.5 TFL, 5 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, and he earned All-ACC honors.
The Denver Broncos are currently standing 14th in the National Football Conference with a 5-12 record and are on a W1 streak, with their next game scheduled against the Kansas City Chiefs on 2026-09-15.
Pro Football Network's latest mock draft predicts that the Broncos will use their 1st round pick to select Brown, who is considered a game-changer due to his speed and physicality.
Brown's ability to make an impact against both the pass and the run makes him an attractive prospect for the Broncos, who are looking to strengthen their defense.
The Broncos' decision to release Dre Greenlaw and sign Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad to new contracts suggests that they are looking to rebuild their inside linebacker corps.