ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Broncos are about to add pass-rusher depth as they have reached a tentative contract agreement with United Football League standout Dondrea Tillman, a source told 9NEWS.
The three-year contract agreement, which will include a $10,000 signing bonus, is pending Tillman passing his physical and the formal release from his UFL contract. Given that Tillman played in the Birmingham Stallion's 25-0 victory Sunday against Wade Phillips' San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL championship, passing his physical was the expectation. The UFL release is also considered a formality.
Tillman, 26, had 26.5 sacks his final three seasons at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania before he hooked up with Birmingham in 2022. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound prospect helped the Stallions win back-to-back USFL titles in 2022-23, then the UFL championship this past spring.
He was credited with a combined 7.0 sacks the past two, 10-game seasons, per Football Database. Tillman at the very least will give the Broncos' training camp and preseason depth at their defensive edge position, which includes Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jaylon Allen, Jonah Elliss, Thomas Incoom, Ronnie Perkins and Durell Nchami.
The team did lose outside linebacker Drew Sanders for a significant portion of the season because of a torn Achilles suffered early in the team's offseason conditioning program.
Broncos rookies report to training camp on July 17 with veterans first day on July 23.
Once the Broncos formally sign Tillman, the team will have to make a corresponding move from their 90-man offseason roster.
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