Jonah Elliss to Denver: Broncos pick Former Utes DE 76th Overall

© Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos selected former Utes defensive end Jonah Elliss with the 76th pick in the third round. Elliss was the 2nd Ute taken in this year's draft behind Cole Bishop and looks to help the Broncos' defense, specifically on the defensive line. The Utah star linebacker turned edge played three years with the Utes, appearing in 35 games while starting in 18 of them.

Utes fans waited for their guy to be taken, and finally, Jonah Elliss is off the board and looks to start his career with the Broncos. Joining a DE room with Matt Henningsen and Zach Allen, Elliss is set to develop under coach Sean Payton. Denver was looking to strengthen their line, and their front office decided Elliss was the answer at 76.

Jonah Elliss' Utes Resume

Jonah Elliss ended his Utes career with 79 total tackles and 47 solo tackles in 35 games. Over his three seasons in the crimson red, he garnered 16 sacks, in addition to three forced fumbles. Elliss hails from Moscow, Idaho, and was the number one recruit in the state in 2020 as a three-star. In his first season with the Utes, he played every game but was a reserve linebacker and worked with special teams. He had a special teams stop against Oregon in their win in 2021 over #3 Oregon and got his first-ever sack against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. He had 15 total tackles on the year, with two fumble recoveries.

Going into his sophomore year, Elliss moved from linebacker to defensive end. He saw action in 11 games, in which he started eight. He finished the year with 26 tackles, three sacks, two fumbles, and two recoveries. His season earned him a Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention nod.

His final year is the season he took the jump and became an NFL prospect. His totals jumped in almost every category, as he started 10 games before going down with an injury that would ultimately end his season. He gathered 37 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. Elliss was an issue for opposing QBs, as he had three pass breakups and three QB hurries. Before his injury, Elliss led the Power 5 level in sacks and was third in tackles for loss. This campaign earned the Edge two Pac-12 Defensive Line Player of the Week and 2023 Midseason All-America honors.

What are the Broncos getting in Jonah Elliss?

The Denver Broncos are getting a physical, quick off-the-ball, and an edge with a vast inventory of pass rush moves. He sets himself up well and has some good counter moves to go inside, like his spin move. In addition to his vast array of moves, his bull-rushing ability makes it rough for offenses to keep a clean pocket.

While he does have upper body strength, he lacks strength in the lower body. He can be heavy on his feet, which affects his lateral quickness and ability to set edges. He has built up an injury history over his last two seasons at Utah, which could be an issue in the future for the Broncos.