The Denver Broncos are still sifting through the rubble of their failed two-year experiment with possible future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson.
They’re hoping that Bo Nix, a quarterback out of Auburn University and the University of Oregon they took with the No. 12 pick in this year’s draft, will finally give them a legitimate signal-caller moving forward.
Denver’s defense was a big problem last season, as they ranked 27th in points allowed and 29th in total yards given up.
On Thursday, they signed Dondrea Tillman, an outside linebacker out of the United Football League (UFL), per Adam Schefter.
Broncos signed outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who played for the United Football League’s Birmingham Stallions, and recorded 32 tackles, four sacks and led the team in pass-rushing productivity and pass-rush win rate.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 20, 2024
Tillman played his college ball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Division II school, before he joined the Birmingham Stallions for the 2022 season.
At the time, the Stallions played in the United States Football League (USFL), which was combined with the XFL to form the UFL just months ago.
In three seasons with the Stallions, Tillman totaled 8.5 sacks and 92 total tackles (51 solo) while helping them win three straight league titles.
Denver has been in the wilderness even since legendary quarterback Peyton Manning retired in 2016 after he led them to a win in Super Bowl 50.
They haven’t made the playoffs since and finished with a winning record just once in that time.
The Broncos have two stars in their secondary in cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons, but their front seven is lacking.
They also got rid of Jerry Jeudy, one of their most productive wide receivers, this offseason when they traded him to the Cleveland Browns for two draft picks.
