Broncos 'didn’t want to disrupt' OLB's ascension with position change

The Denver Broncos considered moving outside linebacker Jonah Elliss to inside linebacker this offseason, but they ultimately decided against it. There could be select situations where Elliss lines up inside, but he is expected to continue primarily playing as an edge defender.

“All the cut-up tape, his production, his ball disruption, it just, for me, felt like, ‘Man, we’re taking a position that’s harder to find, and moving him to a position that we think might be a little bit easier to replace,'” coach Sean Payton said of the decision to keep Elliss at OLB. “That’s not to say that we can’t package a few things, but I think we felt like he’s really ascending as an edge player, and we didn’t want to disrupt that.”

Elliss has totaled 11 quarterback hits and 7.5 sacks through his first two seasons, and the former third-round draft pick seems to be trending up going into Year 3. The Broncos ended up not changing his position, but Elliss was willing.

“I’m always willing to do whatever the team needs me to do, whether that’s playing inside or playing on special teams,” Elliss said. “Whatever I can do to help us get to a championship, I’m willing to do.”

Elliss figures to serve as the third-choice pass rusher this fall behind Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper this fall.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos ‘didn’t want to disrupt’ OLB’s ascension with position change