The Denver Broncos appeared to fill an immediate need with a trade for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley. That deal is no longer happening.
Denver announced in a statement late Wednesday night that the deal, which would have seen the Chargers receive a 2027 fourth-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, was no longer happening. No reason was provided.
Advertisement
“The proposed trade involving Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley will not be finalized. We have great respect for Daiyan as a player and person, and we wish him all the best moving forward.”
The development means Henley will remain with the Chargers, the only winless team in the NFL at 0-8. The deal was going to be a rental for the Broncos as Henley is a pending free agent, but the former third-round draft pick will now spend the remainder of the final year of his rookie contract in Los Angeles.
Henley has a salary of $3.7 million this season, per OverTheCap.
The Broncos, who have won five straight games, approached Tuesday’s trade deadline in need of additional depth at linebacker and appeared to get that in the 27-year-old Henley, who leads the Chargers with 51 combined tackles as well as two passes defended, a forced fumble, an interception and a half sack in eight games this season.
Advertisement
Denver’s defense ranks 10th in points allowed and 26th in total yards, while also playing more snaps than any unit in the NFL at 648. Veteran inside linebacker Alex Singleton has played 647 of those, making him the most-used defensive player in the league, and fellow inside linebacker Justin Strnad isn’t far behind him at 529 snaps.
Henley would have helped give that pair some rest as a rotational option, but the Broncos will have to figure that situation out without the help of the trade deadline.
