Denver Broncos may have leader in the clubhouse at key defensive position

Travis Wakeman

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Denver Broncos may have leader in the clubhouse at key defensive position image

The Denver Broncos lost Josey Jewell in free agency this offseason and though that move was expected, it left a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. 

Alex Singleton has been a stud for the team, among the league leaders in tackles since coming to Denver. But the Broncos need a strong counterpart for him and there will be a wide-open competition for that spot this summer. However, reports coming out of the team's recent minicamp seem to shed some light on who may be in the lead in that race. 

The Broncos signed Cody Barton as a free agent with the eye on having him be a core member on special teams. But Barton, a former third-round pick out of Utah, could end up being much more for the team. 

 

Cody Barton could have inside track on starting job for Broncos

Barton will face competition from Jonas Griffith for the job. Justin Strnad is on the roster too but would be a longshot to earn the role. 

 

Barton is a fierce tackler and if he can show the ability to drop back into coverage, he may win the job easily. However, undrafted free agent Levelle Bailey is a player fans should not overlook. 

If none of those options suffice the front office, former All-Pro Shaquille Leonard is still out there looking for a new opportunity as well. 

The options at inside linebacker are starting to come together for the Broncos. 

Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.