The Broncos blessed their defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph, with three key names this offseason: safety Talanoa Hufanga, selecting cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round, and signing linebacker Dre Greenlaw despite the 49ers’ best attempts to retain him. Hufanga and Greenlaw come with big-game experience—something Joseph appreciates. However, the latter is yet to amass some official league accolades as injuries have kept him away, but when healthy, he’s shown Pro Bowl-caliber play.

And considering their defense is still young, the 28-year-old linebacker’s experience and knowledge could be of great use. Joseph is convinced. “To add those kind of guys to our mix has been tremendous for us,” he confessed last week. But at the start of this month, Greenlaw had not been participating in their OTAs owing to his quad injury. Is there any new update on him?

Well, Dave Logan, who played for the Broncos in 1984, has some things to say about the player. He was on the DNVR Broncos Podcast with ex-wideout Bennie Fowler when he shared: “I went out to one of the OTA practices. Dre wasn’t practicing, but he was in practice gear. He walked right by me, and I was struck like, ‘Oh my, that’s what a Mike linebacker looks like’. I know what I said at the time, which I won’t be able to say on the air, but he looks the part.

“Anybody who’s followed the league, you’ve watched San Francisco—when he’s healthy, he makes a ton of plays.” He may have played just 34 snaps in 2024, but his was an integral part of the 49ers’ defense and before his injury, he was on his way to the higher ranks of LB play.  And so Logan is not alone in praising the player.

Earlier this week, ESPN’s Marcus Spears couldn’t help but appreciate Greenlaw. “He completely changes how you play football at the second level,” Spears opined and went on to state that the Broncos will be a team to watchout for the coming season. And that’s where things get interesting. After all, last season, several teams exploited the Broncos’ weakness in the middle of the field (think when the Bills rushed 44 times for 210 yards in their playoff game). So Denver seems to have made a wise decision with Greenlaw and Hufanga.

Dre Greenlaw’s training camp countdown!

The Broncos’ big free-agent splash hit a minor snag last month when Dre Greenlaw—Denver’s new $31.5M LB—was ruled out of OTAs with a quad strain. According to the Denver Post, Greenlaw stayed engaged at the facility despite not practicing, a detail that reassured fans about his commitment. HC Sean Payton played coy about the injury, joking last month, “I saw the early reports, and you don’t know how tempted I get sometimes… But I showed great restraint.” He quickly clarified, “He’s doing well and will be a full participant in training camp.”

For a player with Greenlaw’s resume—455 tackles, three picks, and two forced fumbles in San Francisco—the brief setback hardly raises alarms. The real focus is on what happens when he’s back. Denver didn’t pay him to watch. They need him anchoring the defense in Week 1 as he is projected to be their top inside linebacker. His track record proves he delivers when healthy, flying sideline to sideline with the kind of intensity that changes games.

With Greenlaw, the Broncos weaponized their defense. Coming off an NFL-leading sacks campaign, DC Vance Joseph now has an LB who changes everything. “It’s always great to add Pro Bowl-type players,” Joseph said, praising Greenlaw’s elite coverage skills and the attitude he brings from San Francisco’s dominant defenses.

With Greenlaw and All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga anchoring the middle, Denver’s defense looks scarier than ever. The goal? Overtake Kansas City. Payton won’t say it publicly, but the pieces are there. If Greenlaw stays healthy, his hits and his presence could fuel Denver’s playoff push. What do you think?