Could Broncos EDGE Que Robinson have a larger role on defense this upcoming season?

With their 134th overall selection in the 4th round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Alabama edge rusher Que Robinson.

Robinson was a unique draft prospect because he had all the size, length, athleticism, and traits you look for in an edge rusher, but he never really had a shot on defense due to the talent around him. However, he would become a standout special-teams player and be known more for that than for what he could do on the defensive side of the ball. Robinson did show real upside as a pass rusher but would need some work and development before he reached his true potential.

After Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton highlighted how good of a special teams player Robinson was for Alabama. Paton noted that Robinson has all the traits you look for at edge rusher, and while he develops there, he can be a hardcore special teamer for them from the beginning.

“We’ve been seeing flashes of him the last four years at Alabama, really the last two on defense. But you look throughout his career, just the special team plays. I think he had 16, especially in tackles, in the last two years. You see the athletic traits, the athletic ability, the length, the speed, the way he plays, the motor he plays with. He’s played behind some really good outside backers like [Texans DE] Will Anderson, [Vikings OLB] Dallas Turner, guys like that. So, he wasn’t playing a whole lot this year, kind of clicked on defense and then obviously he got the injury, but he has all the traits you look for at that position and yet, in the meantime, he can be a hardcore special teamer so that’s what attracted us.”

Robinson flashed his potential throughout training camp and the preseason and obviously made the Broncos’ 53-man roster. However, due to the Broncos’ depth and overall health at the edge-rushing position, he only appeared in 6 games for the Broncos this past season. In those 6 games, he had 12 tackles, a half-sack, 1 pass deflection, and 5 pressures, 2 hurries, and 2 hits on the quarterback.

Robinson would make an impact in the Broncos’ playoff run as he would get a sack on New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and show off his pass rush potential.

Now, in year two with the Broncos, Robinson will look to compete for a larger role on defense despite them remaining deep at edge rusher and continue to be a standout special teams player for them this upcoming season.

Player Profile

Que Robinson | Edge Rusher | Denver Broncos

2025 stats: 12 tackles, a half-sack, 1 pass deflection, and 5 pressures, 2 hurries, and 2 hits on the quarterback.

Que Robinson’s 2026 outlook on the Denver Broncos

He will look to have an expanded role on special teams, be active in more than 6 games, and push for more snaps as a pass rusher on defense. I feel like Robinson has all but locked up a spot on the 53-man roster, but his exact role and position on the depth chart are TBD right now.

As an edge rusher, he is currently behind starters Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper and competing with Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman for snaps as the rotational edge rushers on the team. Both players have been pretty good at their roles, so Robinson has his work cut out for him to surpass either of them on the depth chart.

I think he can do it, though.

Just using my untrained eye, he looks like the more talented pass rusher of the group. He’s explosive, has long arms, natural bend, and a motor that does not quit. If he can continue to develop his pass rush ability, add more moves, and so on, I think he could be a very good rotational pass rusher for the Broncos. The talent is there, and he is an underrated breakout player in my opinion.

He only played in 6 games, but when he was out there, he made plays. He got after the passer, made plays in the run game, and his two sacks came against Patrick Mahomes and Drake Maye.

I want to see more of that. He has the talent, and I want to see him out there with Nik Bonitto on select 3rd downs getting after the quarterback. I see true 10+ sack potential in him, and I hope we see signs of that this summer during training camp and the preseason.

Denver Broncos GM George Paton is in the same boat as me. At the end of the year presser, he told reporters that Que Robinson may have the highest upside of any rookie in their 2025 draft class.

Then [OLB] Que [Robinson], he may have the most upside of anyone in our draft class, and you could see it the other day. He’s long, he’s athletic. He can run and is really good in the run game. He’s just learning how to rush, just learning to rush the passer, but has all the traits. Then you see what he does on special teams. We’re really encouraged with him”

At the very least, Robinson figures to be a special teams standout for the Broncos. He thrived there at Alabama, and we all know how much Payton and the Broncos favor special teams standouts. So, I anticipate him, at the very least, being active most weeks and being a key special teamer for the Broncos. Obviously, I think/hope he will have a larger role on defense, but time will tell there.

Final Thoughts

Sai’vion Jones and Que Robinson both are big-time breakout candidates in my eyes. Both have the talent and traits, but just needed some development. The Broncos coaching staff has been excellent at developing their own players recently, and I have high hopes for both young players.

If the Broncos can hit on both players, their defense is going to be a dominant unit for many years to come.

As for Que specifically, I am pretty high on him. It was only limited snaps, but he passed the eye test for me. Whenever he was out there, and it was limited, he made plays or flashed true potential. I want to see more of that, and as George Paton said, he has the highest upside of any player in their draft class. I truly believe he could be a 10+ sack guy in the league.

I hope I am right here, and I am anxious and excited to see how Que Robinson performs this upcoming season. Hopefully, the Broncos have yet another talented and dangerous pass rushing threat coming off the edge.

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