After Serving His Sentence, Former Raiders First-Round Pick Announces Desire to Join Denver Broncos — Willing to Start Over as a Rookie Broncos for a Chance to Return to the NFL

Denver, Colorado – Just ahead of the start of free agency, the NFL is once again buzzing as Nakobe Dean, the linebacker who just won Super Bowl LIX with the Philadelphia Eagles, publicly sent positive signals toward the Denver Broncos. Dean’s comments are widely viewed as a clear “green light” directed at the team in orange. Talked to Eagles ILB Nakobe Dean today at Radio Row. He said he likes “watching the Broncos’ defense.”He’s about to hit free agency. Has made clear he wants to stay in Philadelphia but asked him if there’s interest in Denver.“Yeah, if everything checks out … for sure.” — Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 6, 2026 Dean, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, admitted that he is particularly impressed by the Broncos’ defense and is highly interested in the system built by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. With the Eagles yet to offer a long-term commitment, Denver has quickly emerged as a legitimate potential destination. “I really like the way the Broncos play defense,” Dean shared. “They play fast, they play aggressive, and they have a clear identity. If I get an opportunity, I’m more than willing to take it and become part of Coach Vance Joseph’s system.” That praise immediately caught the attention of league observers. Dean was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and is a former Butkus Award winner at Georgia. In 47 NFL games, he has recorded 226 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous blitzing linebackers. ESPN currently ranks him as a top-four linebacker free agent projection for 2026. That said, Dean’s career has also been accompanied by questions about durability. He has not completed a full season since his rookie year. Still, whenever he is on the field, his pursuit speed and ability to generate pressure consistently make a noticeable difference for the Eagles’ defense. From Denver’s perspective, the need at linebacker is clear. At present, only Dre Greenlaw remains under contract, while Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are both scheduled to hit the open market. That situation leaves the Broncos in search of a player who brings both proven talent and a strong schematic fit. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph did not hide his respect for Dean when asked about the comments. “Nakobe is the kind of player you always want – smart, fast, high-motor, and a true competitor,” Joseph said. “If we ever get the chance to work together, that would definitely be a very special partnership.” For now, everything remains in the exploratory phase. But the fact that a Super Bowl LIX champion has openly expressed interest in wearing a Broncos uniform is enough to spark real excitement in Denver. When free agency officially opens, Nakobe Dean could emerge as a key piece in the Broncos’ plans to reshape their defense.