The Denver Broncos selected Utah linebacker Jonah Elliss with the No. 76 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday. Elliss, a two-year starter at Utah, led the Utes in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (16) in 2023.
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
Elliss ranked No. 94 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: “Elliss is an inconsistent edge setter in the run game, but he is threatening with his upfield burst/motor and skilled with his hands in the pass rush. It is encouraging to think of what he can develop into with a full bag of counters. His pro ceiling is an Alex Highsmith-style edge defender, although a high-end subpackage rusher is his more realistic NFL projection.”
How he fits
You don’t have to look far for the connections that helped bring Elliss to Denver. His older brother Kaden was a seventh-round pick of the Saints in 2019 who played 31 games for Sean Payton across three seasons. His father, Luther, played for the Broncos in 2004 and later became the team’s chaplain during its Super Bowl season in 2015. Two other brothers, Christian and Noah, have also spent time in the NFL.
The Broncos clearly held a wealth of information that helped them determine Elliss would be a strong fit in coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense.
Rookie impact
As far as the on-field fit goes, Elliss will fit into a group of other young pass rushers that includes Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper and Drew Sanders, all of whom are on their rookie contracts. There is no defined pecking order in that group, so Elliss should have a chance to step in and make an early impact.
Depth chart impact
Edge rusher was among Denver’s biggest needs given that Cooper and Browning are both entering the final years of their respective rookie contracts. And it’s still not clear whether Sanders will remain on the edge or whether the 2023 third-round pick will revert to inside linebacker. The Broncos have a solid group overall, but general manager George Paton said Denver still needed to add pass-rushing weapons in this draft. After a breakthrough season at Utah in which Ellis had 12 sacks — even as he played through a torn labrum — the Broncos are betting on ascending potential.
They could have also picked …
A tight end. Each of the top five players at the position besides Brock Bowers, according to Brugler’s rankings, were available. The Broncos had less receiving production from the position than any team in the NFL last season. Jared Wiley, who had eight touchdown catches last season, could have been a useful red-zone target in Payton’s offense. But the bottom line is the Broncos have to improve the overall talent on the roster, and Elliss certainly fits a need.
Fast analysis
The Broncos may not be done at edge. They have six picks on Day 3, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they added another pass rusher to the group. Elliss’ 2023 production makes him an intriguing third-round acquisition. The shoulder injury that forced him to miss the final three games of Utah’s season and the combine may have hurt his stock some, but he’s expected to be fully ready for his rookie season. He should get an early opportunity to show what he can do.
(Photo courtesy of the University of Utah)
