The Denver Broncos have one of the premier edge rushers in the NFL in Von Miller. While Miller isn’t getting any younger, he still demands the attention of opposing offenses.
This offseason, the defense surrounding Miller could be in store for a major overhaul. Chris Harris Jr. is set to become a free agent. Derek Wolfe could be on his way out the door. Justin Simmons could demand a contract too rich for Denver’s pockets.
The question right now in regards to Denver’s defense is, what will Miller’s supporting cast look like?
There is a lot of question marks surrounding the Broncos defense heading into the offseason. One thing that we do know is that Bradley Chubb will be returning from an ACL injury. The former first-round pick is a candidate for a breakout season for the Broncos during the 2020 season.
Chubb’s return will give the Broncos’ defense a much-needed playmaker. This past season, the Broncos finished tied for 17th in sacks. During Chubb’s rookie season they finished eighth in the league in that department.
Chubb’s season-ending injury derailed what looked to be a strong second year in the league for the North Carolina State product. In four games, Chubb recorded 21 tackles, one sack, five tackles for losses and six quarterback hits.
In Chubb’s rookie season, the edge rusher recorded 12 sacks and had 21 quarterback hits, while being strong against the run. It was the type of production that the Broncos were hoping for when they selected him with the fifth overall pick.
A direct beneficiary of Chubb’s stellar rookie season was Miller. That season, Miller recorded 14.5 sacks, the most in season for the veteran edge rusher since 2014, when he recorded 14 sacks. With Chubb out of the lineup last year, Miller recorded just eight sacks, his lowest career output in a season in which he played in more than nine games.
With Chubb back on the field to start the 2020 season, the Broncos will have one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. If Chubb plays the full season, it’s a safe bet to pencil him in for eight or more sacks, while providing solid run defense on the edge.
Denver enters the offseason with a lot of question marks surrounding what the makeup of their defense will look like when Week 1 rolls around. With Chubb back on the field and teamed with Miller, the Broncos have a good starting point to build a foundation around.
[vertical-gallery id=631819]