
#56 LB · Denver Broncos
1 transaction this offseason
Height
6'2"
Weight
225 lbs
Age
25
College
Fresno State
Draft
Undrafted
Experience
2 yrs
LB Rank
#151 / 349
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | Tkl | Sacks | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 10 | 5 | — | — |
| 2025 | ![]() | 3 | — | — | — |
| 2024 | ![]() | 10 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 |
Updated Mar 18, 2026
Total Value
$1.1M
AAV
$1.1M/yr
The Denver Broncos' decision to sign Levelle Bailey to a $1.1M deal earns a D+ CVI, representing a slight overpay for what amounts to rotational linebacker depth. While the financial commitment is minimal in absolute terms, Bailey's production profile as a rotational player suggests his market value should have been closer to veteran minimum territory, making even this modest investment questionable from a pure value standpoint. The one-year structure does limit Denver's downside exposure, essentially functioning as a low-risk flyer on a player who may have untapped upside or special teams value that doesn't fully show up in traditional metrics. However, at $1.1M for a player who projects as a rotational piece, the Broncos are paying above-market rate for depth that could likely have been acquired more cheaply through the draft or practice squad elevations. This signing reflects the reality that even replacement-level NFL talent commands a premium, but Denver would have been better served finding similar production at a lower cost or investing these dollars elsewhere on their roster.
Levelle Bailey is firmly in replacement-level territory among NFL linebackers at this stage of his career, with a performance grade that reflects the reality of a second-year player who has yet to carve out a consistent role on a 14-3 squad. The data here is sparse by design — Bailey has appeared in just three games this season, all as an elevated practice squad contributor, which tells you everything about where he stands on the depth chart right now. There is no statistical standout to point to, and that absence of meaningful production is itself the defining characteristic of his current profile. What keeps this from being a total write-off is the organizational signal buried in his situation: Denver signed him to a future contract, which indicates the front office sees developmental upside worth preserving rather than simply cutting ties. As the mediaFraming makes clear, Bailey's realistic ceiling heading into next season is competing for special teams snaps and linebacker depth — not a starting role on a team that just went 14-3 and locked up the AFC's top seed. The Broncos have been active this offseason, committing first-round pick capital in trades and adding multiple players at skill positions, so Bailey will need to prove himself on the margins to stick. At 25, he still has time to develop, but the performance grade is a clear-eyed signal that the work is almost entirely ahead of him.
A future contract signing for a practice squad linebacker rates as a minimal roster-filler move. Five headlines covered Bailey, mostly as a practice squad elevation, signaling limited media interest. The strongest signal is Bailey's repeated emergency elevations, suggesting roster depth issues rather than genuine talent recognition. Fans largely view this as a forgettable depth move with no impact on playoff aspirations. Bailey projects as a career practice squad journeyman, unlikely to crack the 53-man roster long-term.
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