The Denver Broncos will not finalize a trade for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, the team announced late Wednesday night.
The deal, which was pending a physical, was intended to send a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for the fourth-year player. The agreement was reached shortly before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Henley was viewed as a potential rotational piece to provide rest for veteran inside linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.
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Following the announcement, reports indicated the transaction fell through due to medical issues discovered during the player’s exam. According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, the Broncos identified an issue with one of Henley’s knees during his physical at the team’s facility on Wednesday.
While the teams discussed revised trade terms to account for the medical findings, no agreement was reached. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that “it is not uncommon for one team to have some medical concerns about a player while another does not. In this case, Denver had concerns about Henley following his physical.”
Some context on the Daiyan Henley trade that did not go through between the Broncos and Chargers, per sources. It is not uncommon for one team to have some medical concerns about a player while another does not. In this case, Denver had concerns about Henley following his… pic.twitter.com/y97Ly3CSn9
Henley had been listed on the injury report the previous week with a shoulder injury, though he practiced on Thursday and Friday before playing in the Chargers’ 44-22 loss to the Houston Texans on November 8.
Throughout his career, Henley has been durable, missing just three games across his four seasons in the league. He also played through a torn labrum during the 2024 season, undergoing surgery in 2025, but did not miss a start in either year.
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The Broncos issued a brief statement regarding the cancellation of the agreement.
The proposed trade involving Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley will not be finalized. We have great respect for Daiyan as a player and person, and we wish him all the best moving forward.
Denver Broncos
Following the news, the Chargers updated their social media channels to reflect that the player would remain in Los Angeles. The team revised a previous Thank You, Daiyan graphic to read “Welcome Back,” marking a lighthearted turn for the 0-8 club.
The Chargers front office, led by general manager Joe Hortiz, had previously been praised by head coach Jim Harbaugh for being active in pursuing moves to make the team better. The failed trade means the Chargers retain Henley, a 2023 third-round pick out of Washington State, for the remainder of his rookie contract.
A versatile athlete, Henley began his career as a wide receiver at Nevada before moving to defensive back in 2019 and eventually linebacker in 2020. Since entering the league, he has tallied 317 tackles and five sacks over 56 career games.
From @GMFB: The Daiyan Henley trade to the #Broncos is off because of what will be termed as a failed physical; Plus the #Giants get healthy for tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/hNBFK2ZV2V
For the Chargers, the absence of an extension and the attempted trade suggested the team did not view the 26-year-old as a long-term piece. However, he remains with the organization as they prepare for a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. For Denver, the collapse of the deal leaves them without the added linebacker depth they identified as a priority.
The Broncos are next scheduled to face the Las Vegas Raiders on November 22. The situation mirrors other recent trade complications across the league, including a scrapped deal between the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles for pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie, which was voided after the Bengals realized it would cost them a 2027 compensatory draft pick.
We’ve agreed to terms on a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers to acquire LB Daiyan Henley in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick. This transaction is pending Henley passing a physical. 📰 » https://t.co/Lm7bhqBY8W pic.twitter.com/biyvU8kVud
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we've traded LB Daiyan Henley to the denver broncos → https://t.co/hSd01m215P pic.twitter.com/siWo6whyK0
From @GMFB: A more detailed look at how and why the Daiyan Henley trade was called off, with the #Chargers ultimately ending up with a player they didn’t really want to trade, anyway. pic.twitter.com/xUCssene1K