When it comes to putting together a 90-man NFL roster, you can’t afford to leave anything to chance. One of the wonderful advantages the NFL has right now is that numerous other professional leagues have players on the verge of becoming NFL-caliber (or even former NFL players) putting tape out and receiving some much-needed development and time on the field. The Denver Broncos took notice of one pass rusher from the recently crowned UFL champion Birmingham Stallions and are expected to add him to the roster shortly.
According to Aaron Wilson, the Broncos are working out and expect to sign outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who will transition from being one of the finest pass rushers in the UFL to competing for a spot on the Denver Broncos’ 53-man roster.
Wilson was the first to report that the Broncos are anticipated to sign Tillman, but MLFootball on Twitter/X broke the news that Tillman was working out with Denver.
Tillman is a 6-foot-3, 270-pound EDGE defender who excelled at going after the quarterback for the Stallions this season.
Tillman tallied up over 33 QB pressures for two straight seasons, and Pro Football Focus rated his overall edge performance this season as extremely good.
There’s no need to get too fired up over this change just now. For the time being, the Broncos are merely taking a chance on a player who deserves nothing more than that. From the NFL team’s perspective, moves like this pose virtually little risk, and it’s encouraging to see the Broncos getting involved in signing standouts from other professional organizations.
Tillman is one of several UFL players who have received interest from NFL teams since the league’s conclusion, and he will have an advantage heading into training camp because he is already in game shape.
Tillman, 26, still has plenty of time to establish a name for himself in the NFL. What might it look like for the Denver Broncos in 2024? It remains to be seen. He’d have to hope that Denver wants to keep five guys off the edge this year while beating out players like 2023 undrafted free agent Thomas Incoom.
You never know what will happen during training camp and the preseason, and I appreciate the Broncos’ confidence in their pro scouting on this one. Tillman will be an intriguing tale to follow for the duration of the summer.
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