Daiyan Henley will remain with the Los Angeles Chargers after a proposed trade to the Denver Broncos fell apart.
Denver said Wednesday that the deal would not be completed, adding that the team respects Henley and wishes him well. The Broncos did not explain why the trade was called off.
Henley was at the Broncos’ facility Wednesday and took a physical. Denver had announced before Tuesday’s trade deadline that it would acquire the fourth-year linebacker, with the deal subject to that exam. It’s possible the physical played a role, though the team has not confirmed that.
The Broncos had agreed to send the Chargers a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder. Los Angeles responded to the news with a playful update to its “Thank You, Daiyan” graphic, changing the message to “Welcome Back.”
Denver is on its bye week, so more details may not emerge until coach Sean Payton returns to prepare for the team’s Week 11 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Henley is in the final year of his rookie contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season. The Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft, and he has since become an important part of their defense.
He leads the Chargers with 51 tackles through eight games. Henley had also recorded at least 100 tackles in each of his previous two seasons.
Los Angeles remains the NFL’s only winless team, while Denver leads the AFC West at 7-2. The Broncos had hoped Henley would strengthen an already productive defense and line up alongside middle linebacker Alex Singleton, who has a league-high 107 tackles in nine games.
Henley’s failed trade was one of several deals that unraveled around the deadline. Cincinnati also backed out of an agreement with Philadelphia to acquire Arnold Ebiketie, after realizing the move would cost the Bengals a compensatory pick in the 2027 draft.
