The Denver Broncos found some help for the middle of their defense right before the deadline.

Denver acquired linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday. The winless Chargers get a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in return.

Henley turns 27 next week. He is in the last year of his rookie contract and is set to become a free agent in 2027.

A tackling machine

Henley leads the Chargers with 51 tackles in eight games this season. He was also their top tackler in each of the previous two years.

The third-round pick from 2023 has 317 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions in 56 career games.

Why Denver needed him

The Broncos are 7-2 and riding a five-game winning streak. Their defense has been on the field more than anyone's, playing 618 snaps, the most in the league.

Alex Singleton has been a big reason for their success, but the 32-year-old leads all NFL defenders with 617 snaps and has missed only one. He and Justin Strnad have started every game at inside linebacker. Denver also ranks 23rd in the league against the run.

Watching the picks

The Broncos had been linked to bigger names like Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Their salary cap room, believed to be just under $5 million, made those deals harder.

Denver has also tried to protect its picks in next April's draft. It expects an extra fourth-round compensatory pick after losing John Franklin-Myers to Tennessee in free agency.

The Broncos are on a bye this week. They host the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 22.