Dre Greenlaw Reportedly Released By Broncos, Salary Cap Implications Amid NFL Free Agency

The Denver Broncos are reportedly parting ways with veteran linebacker Dre Greenlaw this offseason.

The Broncos are releasing Greenlaw ahead of the 2026 NFL season, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

Greenlaw was signed for two more seasons. He had $2 million in guaranteed salary set to trigger on the fifth day of the 2026 league year, per Spotrac.

The move will leave the Broncos with $4.3 million in dead cap while saving the team just over $6.02 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.

Greenlaw was previously signed at a salary of $7.47 million and cap hit of $10.36 million next season. He was set to receive $2 million in guarantees on the fifth day of the league year, per Spotrac.

The news of his release comes shortly after the Broncos re-signed two other interior linebackers in Justin Strnad (three-year deal reportedly worth up to $19.5 million) and Alex Singleton (two-year, $15.5 million deal).

The Broncos are also re-signing running back J.K. Dobbins to a reported two-year deal.

Denver had about $34.2 million in 2026 cap space before signing Dobbins, Strnad or Singleton, per Over the Cap.

Greenlaw, who spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers, suffered a torn Achilles in February 2024 that limited him to just two games with the Niners in 2025.

He signed a three-year deal with the Broncos in free agency last offseason, but was limited to just eight appearances due to multiple injuries and a one-game suspension.

The Broncos will now move on in order to continue leaning on Singleton, who started 16 regular-season games and two playoff contests last season despite undergoing midseason surgery to address a testicular cancer diagnosis.

The Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans were connected to Greenlaw last offseason by The Athletic's Michael Silver. NJ.com's Art Stapleton has also indicated the 49ers could be interested in a reunion with the linebacker.

Whichever team ultimately signs Greenlaw will hope the linebacker, who turns 29 in May, is able to stay healthy in 2026 to bounce back after two injury-limited seasons.