After a small commerce again that netted them an additional sixth spherical choose, the Denver Broncos made their first (and solely to date) collection of the 2026 NFL Draft once they chosen Texas A&M defensive deal with Tyler Onyedim. He is a 6-3, 292-pound defensive lineman with 34-inch arms, and profiles as a one-gap penetrator for the Broncos.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him graded as his 74th total participant, ranked him as his Seventh-best defensive deal with in the draft, and had a Third-round grade on him. Onyedim appeared in 53 video games over 5 seasons with Iowa State (4 seasons) and Texas A&M (one season) and totaled 138 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and 1 pressured fumble.
Brugler calls Onyedim a well-rounded defensive deal with with no “fatal flaw” to his sport and says he profiles as a one-gap penetrator and a reliable rotational piece.
Onyedim is fast out of his stance and has sufficient athleticism to shoot gaps and slice by blocks. His arms and toes keep linked as he works the blocker’s edge, however he reverts to a predictable long-arm transfer as his go-to plan B and must evolve past that. Against the run, he performs with consciousness and extension to do his job, however he struggles reacting to double groups and down blocks. Onyedim won’t have a real distinguishing trait, however he additionally doesn’t have a deadly flaw that can be uncovered by NFL competitors. He tasks greatest as a one-gap penetrator and reliable rotational piece.
So, why did the Broncos draft Onyedim? They needed to maintain their line of defense sturdy. He will assist change the void left by John Franklin-Myers, who signed with the Titans throughout free company.
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He joins Zach Allen, DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones, and the remainder of the Broncos defensive linemen and can be a helpful rotational participant for them. The Broncos signed Roach to an extension, so search for him to have an expanded position and fill a few of the snaps that Franklin-Myers had final season. Onyedim will slot in as a depth participant and will probably take over Malcolm Roach’s earlier position as the Broncos’ do-it-all reserve lineman. He may even push for some third-down/pass-rushing snaps this season if he has a powerful coaching camp and preseason.
At the finish of the day, it’s a must to hold your trenches sturdy, and that is the second-year in a row the place the Broncos have invested a third-round choose alongside their line of defense. Now, they should proceed to develop Jones and now Onyedim, and hopefully, one or each gamers can flip into starters and potential All-Pro gamers down the highway.
While this wasn’t a flashy choice like a playmaker at tight finish or operating again, and even one in every of the linebackers all of us talked about previous to the draft. It’s a stable addition to an necessary a part of the roster. We noticed a deep line of defense/go rush rotation assist the Eagles win the Super Bowl a couple of years again, and the Broncos are hoping to realize the similar success right here with Onyedim.
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I neglected him a bit throughout the pre-draft course of, and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t do a profile on him, however I like this choose. Hopefully, Onyedim pans out, and the Broncos landed themselves a future All-Pro participant.