Tillman went from being an afterthought to becoming a valuable member of the Broncos defense.
Last offseason, the Broncos signed former UFL defender Dondrea Tillman to compete for a spot on their roster. This signing did not generate much excitement in Broncos Country, and he was somewhat of an afterthought as we progressed through the summer. So, when he was among the Broncos cuts as they trimmed their roster down to 53 players, nobody really questioned it.
However, the team would sign him to their practice squad, and he would be promoted to the active roster during their week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that game, not only did the Broncos get the upset over the Bucs, but Tillman would have a bit of a breakout performance himself. He would sack quarterback Baker Mayfield twice in this game and show the Broncos coaches that he belonged on an NFL roster.
Tillman would end up appearing in 12 games for the Broncos and totaling 23 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, and 7 QB hits while playing in a reserve role for the team. Now, he enters year two with the Broncos viewed as a quality rotational edge rusher who is expected to have a role in Vance Joseph’s defense.
Player Profile
Dondrea Tillman | Broncos | Edge Rusher
Height: 6-3
Weight: 270 pounds
Age: 27 years old
Experience: 2nd NFL season
2024 stats: Appeared in 12 games for the Broncos and totaled 23 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, and 7 QB hits
Broncos Edge Rusher Dondrea Tillman 2025 Outlook
His role is likely to remain the same as it was last season. Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper are your starters, and both are coming off double-digit sack seasons, while Jonah Elliss and Tillman will be your rotational depth.
The thing Tillman has going for him is his size. He is by far the biggest edge rusher on the team and arguably one of, if not the strongest, of the group. He plays with power, can set the edge, and has the size and strength and do well in the run game. This is important because the Broncos need someone who can set the edge and be dominant in the run game. While he improved as a run defender, Nik Bonitto is still at his best when he is rushing the passer, and so is Jonah Elliss. So, I think we could see Tillman’s snap count go up a little bit more this upcoming season and rotate in during some short-yardage/goal-line situations. He played just 29% of the defensive snaps last season, so I think we could see that number go up to near 40% this upcoming season.
He also proved he can get after the passer. He wins with power while also showing surprising athleticism to get by blockers and run down the quarterback. So, not only could we see him more as a run defender, but he could see time on third downs as well.
Since he is a backup, we will see him on special teams once again this season. Last year, he played 61% of the Broncos’ special teams snaps, and I could see that number grow this upcoming season.
Final Thoughts
You can never have enough pass rushers. Tillman was a pleasant surprise last season, and I believe he will continue to be that this upcoming season. He has an exciting blend of speed, power, and athleticism and should be a key part of the Broncos’ pass rush unit. As I mentioned previously, we could see his role grow more this year and give the Broncos one of the better and deeper edge rushing groups in the NFL.
If Bonitto and Cooper can repeat their 2024 seasons and we see Elliss and Tillman grow and develop in year two, the Broncos’ edge rushing unit could be elite.