
#96 DE · Denver Broncos
Height
6'6"
Weight
320 lbs
Age
27
College
Iowa State
Draft
Undrafted
Experience
3 yrs
DE Rank
#97 / 161
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | Sacks | Tkl | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 29 | 4.0 | 67 | 9 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 17 | 3.5 | 39 | 8 |
| 2024 | ![]() | 4 | 0.5 | 11 | 0.5 |
| 2022 | ![]() | 8 |
Length
4 years
Total Value
$4.4M
Guaranteed
$766K
AAV
$1.1M/yr
This four-year, $4.4M extension for Eyioma Uwazurike represents a shrewd value play by Denver, earning a B+ CVI that reflects excellent cost control for a developing pass rusher. At just $1.1M annually, the Broncos are paying rotational player money for a defensive end who's shown flashes of above-average ability when healthy, creating meaningful upside if he can stay on the field and continue progressing. The modest $0.8M guaranteed keeps Denver's risk minimal while locking up a young edge defender through his prime development years, which is crucial given the premium cost of established pass rushers in free agency. Uwazurike's injury history prevents this from being an elite steal, but the contract structure gives the Broncos multiple outs if things don't pan out while positioning them perfectly if he takes the next step. This is exactly the type of calculated gamble successful franchises make on the margins — paying rotational rates for potential starter upside while maintaining financial flexibility to address bigger needs elsewhere.
Eyioma Uwazurike grades at a D as a defensive end who showed a promising flash in 2025 but has been too inconsistent to earn a higher mark. His 3.5 sacks and 39 tackles across 17 games in Denver represented a career-best season after missing most of 2024 with just four games played. The eight tackles for loss in 2025 suggest he is developing as a run defender, though four career sacks through 29 games is still below expectations for an edge rusher. After a suspension wiped out his 2023 season entirely, Uwazurike is essentially playing catch-up in his development. The Broncos are giving him a long leash, and he needs to build on 2025 to prove he belongs as more than a rotational piece on a rebuilding defense.
Eyioma Uwazurike enters the 2026 season riding a wave of genuine momentum after what multiple outlets are characterizing as a career-best year in Denver. His dominant Week 18 performance generated notable buzz, with analysts pointing to it as evidence that the former suspension-shortened career may finally be finding its footing. The narrative surrounding Uwazurike is one of redemption and late-blooming development, a framing that tends to generate favorable media coverage and fan goodwill heading into a new season. He is firmly in the conversation for a starting defensive line role, which represents a meaningful elevation in his professional standing and signals organizational confidence from the Broncos' coaching staff. While he remains a depth-level contract player without the accolades of an established starter, the current media sentiment is decidedly optimistic, positioning him as one of the more intriguing developmental stories on Denver's defensive front heading into the offseason.
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| 0.5 |
Updated Mar 18, 2026
Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
C-
2025
(50% weight)
D-
2024
(30% weight)
F
2022
(20% weight)