Mile High Huddle

Report: Broncos 'Expected to Sign' UFL Star Dondrea Tillman

The Birmingham Stallions DL is working out for Denver.

Zack Kelberman

Pittsburgh Maulers Troy Willaims (11) throws downfield before being tackled by Birmingham Stallions Dondrea Tillman (99) during the second half of the USFL Championship game Saturday evening at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, OH.
Pittsburgh Maulers Troy Willaims (11) throws downfield before being tackled by Birmingham Stallions Dondrea Tillman (99) during the second half of the USFL Championship game Saturday evening at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, OH. / Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-USA TODAY NETWORK
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Fresh off capturing his third United Football League championship, Birmingham Stallions star defensive lineman Dondrea Tillman is "expected to sign" with the Denver Broncos following a Tuesday workout, per league insider Aaron Wilson.

Tillman's tryout was first reported by MLFootball.

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Before arriving in the NFL's unofficial minor league, Tillman played collegiate ball at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he registered 82 solo tackles, 28 sacks, two interceptions, and a pair of defensive touchdowns across 48 career games.

Tillman went undrafted and had a one-and-done stint with the Conquerors of the now-defunct Spring League. Then the 26-year-old found a home in the UFL, initially as part of the United States Football League (USFL) prior to its 2023 merger with the similarly-upstart XFL.

Tillman was an integral component of the Stallions' defense, notching 92 total tackles (51 solo) and 8.5 sacks while helping lead the dynasty to its three-peat.

Assuming pen touches paper, Tillman will join a revamped Broncos defensive line that includes new arrivals John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach, and Angelo Blackson. He'll likely compete for a backup role behind starting DE Zach Allen or, at worst, a spot on the practice squad.

When it comes to the trenches, there's no such thing as too much beef — a lesson learned the hard way.

“Last year with the rush defense, it wasn’t every game, it was just spotty. I think having those two guys inside to hold a point for us and to change the L.O.S. [line of scrimmage], that’s important," defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said of Franklin-Myers and Roach. "With our run defense, both guys have a history of doing that. So that should help us tremendously. Tackling was our issue with run defense. So improving our tackling, that’s also going to help us. We gave up some big runs, and it wasn’t because of gap fits, it was missed tackles, so improving our tackling should help that."

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Zack Kelberman
ZACK KELBERMAN

Zack Kelberman is the Senior Editor for Mile High Huddle. He has covered the NFL for more than a decade and the Denver Broncos since 2016. He's also the co-host of the wildly popular Broncos show the Mile High Huddle Podcast.

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