Denver Broncos may have found a gem in pass-rusher Jonah Elliss

When Jonah Elliss heard his name called in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos , it marked the continuation of a family tradition. Elliss’s father Luther played in the NFL for 10 seasons, and his three brothers Kaden, Christian and Noah have all spent time on NFL rosters as well.

But if Jonah continues on the trajectory he’s shown in preseason, he could end up outshining them all. He had another sack in Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers , recovered a fumble, and forced an interception when he pressured Packers quarterback Sean Clifford toward the end of the second quarter.

It’s important to mention the caveat that Elliss’s action has all come against second- and third-string players so far. But the pass-rusher has looked far from a rookie, in both the run game and against the pass.

The Broncos have several pass-rushers they’re excited about, including Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper and Baron Browning. But Elliss is clearly forcing his way into the rotation, and could provide the team with some key flexibility in the coming years.

Browning and Cooper are both unrestricted free agents after the 2024 season. They play at a premium position, and the Broncos will still be absorbing $32 million in dead cap charges from Russell Wilson’s contract in 2025. They’ve also got other young players to dedicate their money to, such as superstar cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

If Elliss becomes a top performer at the pass-rush position for the Broncos this year, it will go a long way toward making the team feel better about letting Cooper or Browning (or both) test the free agency waters. He has to continue improving and stay healthy, but if he does Elliss could be a mainstay for the Broncos defense for years to come.