Sean Payton Shifts Elliss to Linebacker

0:00On March 31st, Sean Payton drops some news this morning after meeting with the media. He's shifting Edge-Russia-Jona Ellis to get reps at Inside Linebacker for the Broncos. Ellis, their third round pick, has shown flashes but sits behind guys like Nick Bonito and Jonathan Cooper on the Depth Chart. The team has solid depth at Edge with players like Kay Robinson and Don Drea Tillman, so Payton sees Ellis' smart, toughness and skill set fitting better inside sometimes. It's not a full switch, just mixing in those linebacker snaps to use his size, speed, and pass rush juice. Fans and analysts are buzzing because defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph, loves to blitz, and Ellis could slide right into that pressure roll, kinda, like what they planned for Drew Sanders. It has youth and athleticism to the linebacker spot without losing Edge Talon. This opens the door for second-year guy, Kay Robinson, to step up bigger in the pass rush rotation. He's got their raw athleticism from last season's flashes, and now he might see more action.

1:02We'll watch how Ellis adepts in coverage and reading plays, but this tweak could shake up the defense big time heading into the offseason. Stay locked in with NFL News Today, AI, Powered Updates. I'm Corey with The Story.