The Denver Broncos will sport Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad for their starting linebacker duo in 2026. However, what shakes out behind them is anyone’s best guess. The various backup positions up for grabs will be one of the most intriguing training camp battles to watch.
Entering his third season with the Broncos, former Fresno State linebacker Levelle Bailey will be competing for one of those spots. He initially made the Broncos’ final 53-man roster in 2023 as an undrafted rookie free agent,
but that was short-lived. However, he did appear in 10 games in his rookie campaign after Singleton was lost early on in the year to an ACL injury. Last year, he was primarily a practice squad player for the Broncos and saw three elevations for the season.
The Broncos have a handful of other UDFA players competing alongside Bailey this summer. Who rises to the top will be one of the major storylines to keep your eye on over the course of the summer. Will Bailey be able to show enough throughout training camp and the preseason to be one of Denver’s rostered linebackers in ‘26? Let’s discuss.
Player Profile
Age: 25 | Experience: Third Year | College: Fresno State | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 227 pounds
Arm Length: 32” | Hand Size: 10” | Vertical: 31-1/2” | Broad Jump: 9’5”
40-Yard Dash: 4.73 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.23 seconds
Levelle Bailey’s 2026 outlook with the Broncos
As I authored last year, Bailey is a good special teams’ player. Additionally, he fits well with Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s vision of having inside linebackers be added pressure players in his defense. Compared to several other players in the mix; the former Fresno State prospect has more knowledge of Denver’s defensive scheme and system which are points in his favor.
However, in thirteen career games, Bailey has just sixteen defensive reps alongside 184 snaps on special teams. That’s more than most everyone gunning for a backup spot. Nevertheless, it surely isn’t enough to be guaranteed a spot. He will need to perform well and make some explosive plays (like we saw during his rookie preseason effort) to wind up making the squad.
Final Thoughts
Bailey’s knowledge of the playbook and experience will be helpful in his pursuit of making the final 53-man roster. Even so, the competition will be fierce with Red Murdock, Tauren York, Jordan Turner, and Karene Reid all vying for backup spots at the position. The inside linebacker backup battle will be one of the biggest to watch in all of training camp.
On the outside looking in, I have no idea how it will wind up playing out. As of now, I believe Denver is going to carry four inside linebackers. My gut tells me two of Murdock, York, and Turner will wind up being the guys to backup Singleton and Strnad. I think those three offer more potential at the next level compared to Bailey. When it is all said and done, I believe Bailey will wind up being on the Broncos’ 16-man practice squad.
