One new Broncos player has a huge advantage of learning hands-on from one of the greatest players of all time
The Denver Broncos are all about adding players to their squad who are smart and have great football IQ. That, and you must have a good work ethic if you play for Sean Payton. They got players who fit that mold perfectly in the 2025 NFL Draft. But also, they made sure to get a […]
The Denver Broncos are all about adding players to their squad who are smart and have great football IQ. That, and you must have a good work ethic if you play for Sean Payton.
They got players who fit that mold perfectly in the 2025 NFL Draft. But also, they made sure to get a few guys who fit that through the free agency period as well. Two of them certainly do, and they come from the same team, the San Francisco 49ers, in Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw. And both of those were positions of need this offseason, especially the safety position.
A few years ago, the Broncos let Justin Simmons walk, and it was one of the more surprising things the Broncos have done in some time. Meanwhile, he played for the Atlanta Falcons and was very good next to Jessie Bates, and the Broncos started P.J. Locke and struggled there.
So they sign Hufanga, a guy who has been a Pro Bowler and All-Pro before. And, he happens to have worked with one of the greatest players of all time, too — Troy Polamalu.
“Being a sponge, you have to absorb as much knowledge around him," Hufanga said during OTAs. "I think the first time I ever encountered him [was] coming out of high school. We both were from Oregon, both played safety, and both went to USC. A guy that I asked, ‘What can I do to be a better safety?’ That was my very first question. I was 17, so please don’t be mad. He said, ‘We have to work on your character first.’ That’s just a testament to who he is, who raised him, and the way that he learned throughout his journey in the league. So for me, my character I would like to say is the most important part first. That’s something that he allowed to teach me as well.”
Hufanga is great, but there are some downsides that we have to remember, well, really just one. He has suffered some injuries in the past, which is okay, that happens in football. Hufanga suffered a torn wrist ligament during the first half of the 49ers's game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. The injury, which was on October 6, 2024, led to him being placed on injured reserve.
And, the year before that, he suffered a torn ACL. So, he has some wear and tear on him, but it's not anything that the Broncos haven't seen before, and that's also why they got a bit of a discount on him. And, let's be honest, they wouldn't sign him if they weren't comfortable with his injury history.
The Broncos got a good one.
