The Denver Broncos have a great group of edge rushers. A big reason why they have been successful getting after opposing quarterbacks the past few years comes from the depth they have at the position. One player who has really surprised the past two seasons for the Broncos is third-year edge rusher Dondrea Tillman.
Tillman’s journey to the NFL took some time. He played his collegiate football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Division II program, where he was an absolute star on the Crimson
Hawks’ defense posting 174 tackles, 30 sacks, and seven forced fumbles in four seasons. He went undrafted, but his football career continued in the USFL/UFL with the Birmingham Stallions.
The next three years, he would be a key cog in their defensive efforts and help them win three consecutive championships. In 2024, Tillman earned the opportunity to fight for a spot on the Broncos’ roster. He impressed in training camp and the preseason but was one of their final cuts. However, he ended up being signed to their 16-man practice squad.
Since then, Tillman been an important backup edge rusher and special teamer for the Broncos. Appearing in 29 games, the former undrafted free agent has racked up 64 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, 9 sacks, and two interceptions. Entering his third year in the NFL, he will be an important depth piece and special teams’ player for the Broncos.
Player Profile
Age: 28 | Experience: Third Year | College: Indiana-Pennsylvania | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 247 pounds
2025 Statistics: 17 games played with 41 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, and 2 interceptions.
Dondrea Tillman’s 2026 outlook with the Broncos
Tillman is poised to be an important rotational piece at edge rusher for the Broncos in ‘26 and a core special teams’ player. In ’24, Tillman saw 242 defensive snaps (29-percent) and 204 snaps (61-percent) on special teams. Last year, he played in 417 defensive snaps (37-percent) and had 276 (59-percent) in the game’s third phase. I would expect similar snap share compared to last season, perhaps more, if the situation with Jonathon Cooper seems to worsen over the course of the summer.
Tillman has proven to be a well-rounded player that has made big plays in the limited snap opportunities. Whether it’s stuffing an opposing running back at the goal line, coming up with a timely sack, or even finding a way to intercept the ball—he just finds a way to make plays. That’ll play on Sunday’s and the Broncos are blessed to have such a talented backup at edge rusher.
Final Thoughts
Tillman’s gridiron story just goes to show that you can find talent anywhere. It’s proof that hard work and diligence can pay off. Even though he went undrafted, he continued to give it his all during his time in the USFL/UFL and has shown a lot of promise in his first two seasons in the NFL. I believe he is poised for the best season entering his third year with the Broncos in ‘26.
