The Detroit Lions signed linebacker Kwon Alexander off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad last week, a move Sean Payton appeared to accept without much resistance.
The Broncos drew attention when they allowed Alexander to join the Lions, opting instead to promote Zach Cunningham to their 53-man roster.
Both players had exhausted their allowable gameday elevations, forcing Denver to choose which linebacker to retain. Despite Payton’s past connection with Alexander in New Orleans, Cunningham got the nod.
“He had used his three call-ups,” Payton said of Cunningham. “His experience, tackling ability, and speed made the decision straightforward. We invested a lot of time in him this offseason.”
During free agency, the Broncos had evaluated Cunningham but ultimately signed Cody Barton to bolster their inside linebacker group alongside Alex Singleton, who was coming off four straight 100-tackle seasons. They also retained Justin Strnad for depth.
That depth became crucial when Singleton tore his ACL in Week 3, ending his season. Denver responded by adding both Alexander and Cunningham, relying on prior scouting evaluations.
With Alexander now in Detroit, the Broncos have an open spot on their practice squad. Payton emphasized that the team would fill it with the “best player available” and expressed support for Alexander’s move to a Lions team poised for success.
“I’m happy for Kwon,” Payton said. “We spoke, and it’s a great chance for him. But we anticipated this happening with Zach.”
It remains unclear if Payton referred to Cunningham’s elevation limits or if the plan was always to prioritize him over Alexander.
Cunningham, an eighth-year veteran and former second-round pick, boasts an impressive career record: 665 tackles (419 solo), 6.5 sacks, an interception, 23 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, and three recoveries.
The Broncos also bolstered their linebacker corps last week by activating Drew Sanders from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. A third-round pick, Sanders was initially slated to play inside but shifted toward an outside role before an Achilles injury sidelined him.
Sanders is expected to join the pass-rushing rotation, though his ability to play both inside and outside adds valuable flexibility to Denver’s defense.
