WR Tim Patrick was also tendered at the second-round level. Both players will make $3.384 million should they not sign elsewhere. 29-year-old Johnson has started 28 games over the last two seasons for coach Vic Fangio's defense. Johnson graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 22 off-ball linebacker last season, receiving plus marks for his run defense.

“Obviously, people talk about how me and Todd (Davis) can’t cover; we’re going to show them we can,” Johnson said. The Broncos defense massively underperformed through the opening four games of the 2019 season. Vic Fangio then shifted, bringing Johnson and nose tackle Mike Purcell into the line-up. The positive results were obvious. Johnson then went on to play 91 percent of the team's defensive snaps for the rest of the season, ending in a breakout campaign in his age-28 season. Johnson has just one season left on his contract.

Believing Johnson to be too raw, head coach Vic Fangio did not have Johnson suit up for a game until Week 5 against the Chargers. He quickly responded with a clutch interception in the end zone against Los Angeles and 1.5 sacks against Tennessee the following week. The Broncos caught a lot of flack for not drafting an inside linebacker in the 2019 draft, but Johnson seems to be the kind of stat-sheet filling weapon that the Broncos needed to complement Todd Davis, who is at his best playing downhill. The Broncos might add some depth to the linebacking corps in the offseason, but Johnson -- who is under contract for another season before hitting restricted free agency -- seems to be the future at the position in Denver.

Johnson began the week as a limited practice participant but will be good to go for Week 15. The 27-year-old has been battling the knee issue for the last few weeks, but the injury hasn't forced him to miss any games.