Weighing the Broncos’ trade for Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley

The Broncos spent the trade deadline buying insurance at the one spot on their defense that hasn’t needed it yet.

On a recent episode of “Orange and Blue Today,” Cecil Lammey and Andrew Mason focused on that move: a trade with the winless Los Angeles Chargers for inside linebacker Daiyan Henley, a two-time defensive captain, in exchange for a fourth- and a fifth-round pick over the next two drafts. It was a rare in-division deal, and both hosts liked it.

Insurance at the last healthy position

Mason’s reasoning starts with the injury list. The defensive line, the edge, corner and safety have all lost key players. Inside linebacker is the only group that hasn’t. Behind Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton, the reserves had no real regular-season experience, and Mason wondered whether the Broncos got skittish about that.

The trade also says something about the other side. The Chargers were willing to move one of their more consistent players.

“It says a lot about how far down the Chargers are,” Mason said.

Rental or something more

Henley has no clear starting spot in Denver, so the deal is a depth move for now. Mason sees a rental, given Strnad’s and Singleton’s contracts and Henley’s expiring rookie deal. He also said a 2028 compensatory pick, perhaps a sixth or seventh-rounder, may have figured into the math.

Lammey applauded the move but wasn’t sure it was enough. He said Henley might push Strnad eventually, but learning the defense could take a month.

More than a body

The case for Henley rests on coverage. Mason cited Pro Football Focus data that has Henley allowing an 85.4 passer rating when targeted, against 98.0 for Strnad and 117.4 for Singleton. Lammey pointed to his Washington State coverage grades and his background as a former offensive player who started on defense as a defensive back. Such players, he said, know where to be because they once tried to beat linebackers.

Both hosts see a role that starts in sub-packages, perhaps on second- and third-and-long, and could grow into a rotation that keeps the starters fresh. Lammey put it this way:

“Henley is a sub-package player for now, and if you needed him to start, he’s got more skins on the wall than a lot of players you could add.”

What the market bears

The hosts framed the Henley deal against teams that held firm. Lammey called the Colts “ridiculous” for keeping running back Jonathan Taylor and waiting on a blockbuster offer.

“There ain’t no Herschel Walker deals anymore, man,” Lammey said.

Mason made a similar case about the Titans and Tony Pollard. Tennessee kept a running back on an expiring deal, and any compensatory pick would likely be canceled out by free-agent signings. The Broncos were reportedly in on Pollard.

“I don’t put that on the Broncos,” Mason said. “I put that one on the Titans.”

The hosts’ view is that Denver took what the market offered and got a useful player. Whether Henley is a one-season rental or a piece of the future depends on how fast he learns the defense and what he shows once he plays.

Disclosure: This article was transcribed from our original audio content and edited for readability with the assistance of generative AI. The article has been reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Please watch or listen to the clip above for the full segment.

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