The Broncos opened the legal tampering period with a pair of big splashes.
Denver agreed to terms with former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Both players are coming off major injuries that limited their play last season. But if they can stay healthy, they could be impactful for an already-stingy Broncos defense.
Here’s a look at how the national media graded the Broncos’ landing the defensive duo.
Talanoa Hufanga, S
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport (Grade: C+): “How this deal pans out will depend largely on which Hufanga the Broncos get. Back in 2022, Hufanga blew up for 97 total tackles and four interceptions on the way to being named a first-team All-Pro.
However, since then the 26-year-old has struggled to stay on the field. Hufanga has missed as many games as he has played in the past two years, including 10 contests in 2024.
“Those durability issues make handing Hufanga $15 million a season something of a risky proposition — albeit one that could pay off big if Hufanga stays on the field and can recapture his 2022 form.”
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin (Grade: C): “The former San Francisco 49ers prospect has the kind of old-school tenacity that coach Sean Payton will adore, and when healthy, he’s proven All-Pro-caliber. The issue has been durability. And Denver is paying him to be annually elite.”
The Athletic’s Mike Jones (Grade: C+): “An All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2022 for the 49ers, Hufanga is a difference-maker for sure. He just has to stay healthy, and that’s a big question looming over him. A torn ACL cut his 2023 season short and delayed the start of his 2024 campaign. A concussion and torn ligaments in his wrist also limited Hufanga last season. If fully healthy, he’s capable of making plays all over the field. In 2022, he had 97 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles.”
Dre Greenlaw, LB
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport (Grade: C+): “The question looming over this deal is Greenlaw’s health. He barely played last year before being shut down, and it’s not unheard of for players to never quite be the same after an Achilles tear.
“If the Broncos get the Greenlaw who shined next to Fred Warner in San Fran, this isn’t a bad deal at all.
“But there’s no guarantee they will.”
The Athletic’s Mike Jones (Grade: B): “Greenlaw missed all but two games last season because of an Achilles tendon tear suffered in Super Bowl LVIII. When healthy, he’s a sideline-to-sideline play-making machine. In one of his two late-season appearances after recovering, Greenlaw showed signs of the impact of which he remains capable, recording eight tackles. Denver is hoping another offseason positions Greenlaw for greater strides back to top form.”
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