Broncos could be ‘perfect spot’ for Oregon draft prospect

The Denver Broncos come into the 2026 NFL draft in a great position, as they are in a place to build their roster with the future in mind, instead of drafting for the here and now. One of the places they may be looking is at linebacker. After shuffling around the likes of Drew Sanders and Jonah Elliss, Denver may be looking at a backup linebacker to put behind starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.

At least that's what Logan Brown of USA TODAY's Ducks Wire believes. Enter Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher, a 6-1, 230-pound prospect out of Eugene. Now, it's safe to say Denver has been a favorite landing place for former Ducks since the beginning of the Sean Payton era (Bo Nix, Troy Franklin, Alex Forsyth), so Boettcher may be an interesting fit.

In 55 games with the Ducks , Boettcher made 269 total tackles (121 solo, 148 assisted), 16 tackles for losses, four sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. "The pipeline (from Eugene to Denver) is very real, and Boettcher could be the latest (Duck drafted by the Broncos )," wrote Brown. "The Broncos already have established starters in Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, but they have also seen late-round picks blossom into impactful player very quickly.

Denver could be the perfect spot for Boettcher to develop his athleticism and grow into a capable depth piece for the Broncos ' defense. He has upside as a blitzer for the Broncos and could work himself into the mix after Singleton's contract ends. " Although small for a linebacker, Boettcher could see a role as a special teams player, a familiar spot for him, as that was where he began his Oregon career as a walk-on.