One prospect the Denver Broncos are showing interest in and could be an option for them on day 3 of the draft is explosive TCU Linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr. They had him in for a pre-draft top-30 visit and also reportedly had a linebacker coach present for his Pro Day. He is a 6-2, 234-pound linebacker who is one of the more athletic off-ball linebackers in the entire 2026 NFL Draft.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr started his career at Cal before transferring and playing the previous two seasons at TCU. After a down
2024 season, Elarms-Orr is coming off a breakout season for TCU and was a key member of their defense. During his two years at TCU, he appeared in 26 games and totaled 184 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, and 2 pass deflections. This past year, Elarms-Orr appeared in 13 games and totaled 130 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, and 2 pass deflections.
The Broncos re-signed veteran linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, but both players will be 30+ years old at the start of the season. Adding an athletic linebacker like Elarms-Orr would make a lot of sense and give them a player they can develop into a future starter.
Player Profile
Kaleb Elarms-Orr | Linebacker | TCU
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 234 pounds
- Arm Length: 31.5 inches
- Hand Size: 9 inches
- 40-time: 4.47 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 40 inches
- Broad Jump: 10-4
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.41 seconds
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
- Tested incredibly well at the Combine and showcased his athleticism
- Legit sideline to sideline speed
- Rangy linebacker who closes on the ball quickly
- Has standout agility and movement skills in the open field
- Was a physical and reliable wrap-up tackler this past season for TCU
- Was an effective blitzer/pressure player and used his speed and athleticism to get after the QB
- Has some pass-rush moves and comes with pass-rush upside
- Has the ability to be good in zone coverage
- Violent mindset on the field, good character off the field, and in the locker room
Weaknesses
- Play recognition and processing are sometimes not great
- Can get fooled by play action, misdirections, and can be a tick slow at processing what’s happening
- Struggles against second-level OL getting their hands on him and washing him out of a play
- He’s only okay in coverage and is more of a downhill run and chase linebacker
- Only 1 career INT brings up ball production questions
- Angles can be inconsistent due to over-aggressiveness
What other analysts are saying about TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Elarms-Orr is a well-built linebacker with above-average athleticism but problematic instincts. He has the speed and athleticism to get to the football from sideline to sideline. However, he frequently struggles with recognizing blocking schemes and too often loses track of play development. He’s rangy but average in zone coverage, with talent as a blitzer worth continued exploration. He will need improved processing but should dial in as a backup with a full-time role on special teams.
LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr RAS
Should the Broncos select TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr on day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft?
I came into this profile unfamiliar with Kaleb Elarms-Orr and assumed he would be a different type of player after seeing his size and testing numbers. I assumed he would profile more as a coverage linebacker; however, while he is rangy, he is more of a downhill run-and-chase linebacker who has pass-rush upside, but has some questions about their coverage ability.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph does love linebackers who can blitz, and Elarms-Orr fits the mold there. He is explosive off the snap, gets into the backfield quickly, and has some pass rush moves in the bag. If kept clean, he can use his athleticism to track down the ball-carrier and can do it physically.
His questions and struggles with instincts and processing are something teams will need to figure out if they can correct that or not. He does show flashes in zone coverage and has the athleticism and ability to do it, but he just seems to struggle to understand all that is happening on the field sometimes.
To me, he seems like a day 3 WILL linebacker prospect who will contribute on special teams early and has the potential and skill set to develop into a starter down the road,
