Broncos Urged to Sign Projected $27 Million Super Bowl Champion LB
The Denver Broncos took a shot at fixing their inside linebacker woes this offseason when they signed former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a 3-year, $31.5 million free agent contract.
Greenlaw, who famously tore his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl following the 2023 season, has been a huge whiff to this point. He missed almost all of the offseason, preseason and 6 regular season games with a quad injury and then, when he returned, missed another game due to a 1-game suspension when he threatened a referee following a win over the
The Broncos are now missing fellow starting linebacker Alex Singleton, who just underwent surgery for testicular cancer and is in the final season of a 3-year, $18 million contract he signed in March 2023.
The long term solution for the Broncos might not come until free agency, where they should take a long, hard look at signing Super Bowl champion Nakobe Dean away from the
Dean is the No. 12 ranked free agent in Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox’s latest Top 50 free agency rankings for 2026.
“Linebacker Nakobe Dean had a breakthrough campaign in 2024, in which he amassed 128 tackles and three sacks while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 80.8 in coverage,” Knox wrote on November 5. “While the 24-year-old’s season was ended by a torn patellar tendon in January, he returned to the field in October.”
Dean Projected for 3-year, $27 Million Contract
Dean tore his patellar tendon in last season’s NFC Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers but returned after missing the first 5 games of the regular season and has looked sharp — and back to his normal, playmaking self.
In 5 games and 3 starts, Dean has 21 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3 TFL, and 1 forced fumble. He’s also in the final season of the 4-year, $5.2 million rookie contract he signed after the Eagles drafted him in the third round of the 2022
The Broncos wouldn’t have to break the bank to get him.
“PROJECTION: Eagles standout linebacker Nakobe Dean is projected to sign a 3-YEAR, $27 MILLION CONTRACT extension,” ML Football wrote
Dean Called NFL’s ‘Most Underpaid Player’
Dean, who won a College Football Playoff National Championship at Georgia in his final college season, is the kind of player who can steady a defense
He’s also about to be the odd man out in Philadelphia, where NFL All-Pro inside linebacker Zack Baun signed a 3-year, $51 million contract in March and the Eagles spent their 2025 first round pick on linebacker
Dean’s production vs. how much he’s making right now landed him on Bleacher Report’s list of the NFL’s “Most Underpaid Players” headed into 2025 — despite the injury.
“Another underrated young NFC East linebacker coming off a triple-digit-tackle campaign (128) making relative chump change on a four-year, $5.2 million rookie contract,” Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon wrote on March 28. “Let’s just hope a major knee injury suffered in January won’t cost him significant progress (and money) in 2025 or beyond.”
Giants’ Latest Injury Report Signals Positive Progress for Offense
The New York Giants have been riddled with injuries so far this season, including last week’s 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
But leading up to their Week 12 tilt with the Detroit Lions, Big Blue seems to be getting healthier.
Their latest injury report suggests the defense may still be missing a few key pieces against Detroit, but their offense should get back two key starters.
GIANTS INJURY REPORT 11/20
Did Not Participate in Practice: ▪️CB Paulson Adebo (Knee) ▪️TE Thomas Fidone II (Foot) ▪️CB Cor’Dale Flott (Not Injury Related/Personal) ▪️OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Shoulder)
Limited: ▪️CB Deonte Banks (Hip) ▪️QB Jaxson Dart (Concussion/Non-Contact
Wide receiver Darius Slayton, who missed the Packers game with a hamstring injury, was a limited participant in practice today, suggesting he should be ready to go against the Lions.
Rookie sensation Jaxson Dart, who also missed the game against Green Bay thanks to a concussion suffered against the Chicago Bears, is still a non-contact participant.
But he is trending in the right direction and was predicted to be cleared tomorrow by The Athletic’s Dan Duggan.
Giants Offense Getting Healthier
The New York Giants aren’t going to get back their most impactful skill position players for the rest of the season. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo are both on season-ending injured reserve.
But getting Dart and Slayton back in the mix will be a massive boost for New York.
“Dart in the limited category again. Don’t think that impacts his status for Sunday at all, but looks like he won’t get cleared until tomorrow,” predicted Duggan.
Jameis Winston was serviceable for the Giants last week, but it’s obvious that Dart provides another level to the offense that no other quarterback on the roster can provide.
In terms of pass catchers, Slayton will be a welcome addition back to the Giants’ offense.
Against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, only three New York wide receivers caught passes from Winston.
Their leading receiver, Isaiah Hodgins, was poached off the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ practice squad just days before the game, signifying how thin the Giants are at wide receiver right now.
While New York will be hopeful about their returning pieces on offense, the defense is a different story.
Giants Defensive Injuries Piling Up
The defensive backfield is something to keep an eye on heading into Sunday’s game.
Cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Cor’Dale Flott were both non-participants in Thursday’s practice, though Flott’s was not injury-related.
Deonte Banks and Rico Payton were limited.
Nickel cornerback Nic Jones was also added to the injury report with a hamstring injury, stretching the New York Giants’ secondary incredibly thin.
Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was also listed as a did not participate, signaling that the former first-round pick may miss his second consecutive game thanks to a nagging shoulder injury.
It could mean another increased workload for 2025’s No. 3 overall pick, Abdul Carter.
Otherwise, defensive linemen Chauncey Golston and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. were listed as limited, along with linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and safety Tyler Nubin.
Every team in the NFL deals with injuries; that’s a given. But the Giants have been dealt a rough hand in 2025 in terms of health.
We’ll see how it affects them when they travel to Detroit for their third consecutive showdown with a team from the NFC North.
