If Broncos want to contend in 2022, one key player must elevate his game
Jul 26, 2022, 1:25 PM
Russell Wilson is the most-important Broncos player. Nathaniel Hackett was a key upgrade at head coach. And George Paton has proven an astute roster builder during his first two offseason on the job.
All three will have a huge impact on the upcoming season. But they aren’t the only ones.
Wilson, Hackett and Paton are the team’s foundation. They make the Broncos a franchise that should win 10-plus games every season and be a perennial playoff contender.
A different Bronco will take the team to the next level, however. Bradley Chubb is the player that can make Denver a legit Super Bowl contender.
The former No. 5 overall pick in the draft is entering a pivotal season. He’s in the fifth year, playing on the team option. He needs to have a banner season in order to cash in.
Von Miller landed a six-year, $120-million contract this offseason. Chandler Jones earned three years and $52.5 million. The Broncos gave Randy Gregory $70 million over five years.
A similar deal could be on the horizon for Chubb. But only if he bounces back from an injury-plagued season.
A year ago, Chubb never could get right. He seemed to spend more of training camp on the rehab field than the practice field. He got banged up in the final preseason game and reaggravated his ankle injury in Week 2 at Jacksonville.
By season’s end, the edge rusher has played in just seven games. The one-time heir apparent to Von Miller had zero sacks.
As a result, the Broncos defense struggled. Without an elite pass rusher, Denver couldn’t pressure the quarterback or force turnovers. They suffered through a death-by-paper-cut approach.
This year, new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is looking to change that fact. He wants to play an aggressive style.
It’ll work best if Chubb is healthy. If the linebacker plays to his rookie form, when he had 12.0 sacks, the Broncos will be able to generate a pass rush without having to blitz.
Will he reach that level? It sounds like he’s ready to return to form.
“He’s had an incredible offseason,” Paton said about Chubb at Tuesday’s training camp kickoff press conference.
His new head coach reiterated that fact.
“He’s been very difficult for us to block,” Hackett added.
Now, the Broncos need Chubb to be difficult for other teams to block. If he is, Denver will be a contender. And the edge rusher will cash in.
“We want him here a long time,” Paton said on Tuesday about Chubb.
Time will tell. But the Broncos certainly hope so.
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