Broncos 2020 Free Agency Preview: Outside Linebackers
Mar 4, 2020, 6:43 AM
When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 18, the Broncos figure to be very active. For one, they have a lot of holes to fill, so there are plenty of reasons for John Elway to go shopping. But in addition, Denver’s general manager will have a lot of money to spend.
Currently, the Broncos are $58 million under the 2020 salary cap, but that number could grow to as high as $76 million once Ron Leary and Joe Flacco come off the books as expected. And if Elway really wants to get crazy, he can free up nearly $9 million in additional cap space by parting ways with Todd Davis and Jeff Heuerman.
How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.
It continues today with one of the few positions where the Broncos are actually pretty well set – outside linebacker. Von Miller and. Bradley Chubb are entrenched as the team’s starters, while young players like Jeremiah Attaochu, Justin Hollins and Malik Reed emerged last season to provide Denver with depth. That said, there’s always room for improvement, as an upgrade is always possible. If the Broncos are looking to add more help on the outside, these free agents would certainly do the trick.
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Top Five Available
1. Shaquil Barrett – This name is familiar to Broncos fans, as Barrett spent the first five years of his career in Denver, where he totaled 14.5 sacks in a backup role. Last season, he departed for Tampa Bay, where he finally got a chance to be an every-down player; the results were eye-popping. With the Buccaneers, Barrett posted a league-leading 19.5 sacks, becoming a force off the edge that was difficult for opponents to deal with on a weekly basis and earning himself a ton of money in the process.
2. Bud Dupree – A first-round pick in 2015, it took a little while for Dupree to get his feet under him. It’s not as though he was bad during his first four seasons in Pittsburgh; it’s just that he wasn’t a dominant player. But last year, that all changed. In 2019, he posted career highs in sacks (11.5), tackles (68), tackles for loss (16) and QB hits (17). That was good timing in a contract year, as the 27-year-old linebacker showed the league that he could be an elite-level player.
3. Dante Fowler Jr. – The third-overall pick in 2015, it just never quite clicked in Jacksonville. From missing his entire rookie year with an injury to the constant turmoil that seems to surround the Jaguars, Fowler wasn’t able to reach his potential. So after just two-and-a-half seasons on the field, he was shipped off to the Rams. In Los Angeles, he found new life, blossoming under Wade Phillips. Last season, Fowler had 11.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits, all career bests.
4. Markus Golden – A second-round pick in 2015, Golden’s career has been a tale of ups and downs. During his four years in Arizona, he had one good season, racking up 12.5 sacks during his second campaign with the Cardinals. In the other three years combined, he had trouble staying on the field and only posted 6.5 total sacks. Then in 2019, his only season with the Giants, Golden had 10.0 sacks and 27 QB hits, a bounce-back season that proved he can still get after the quarterback.
5. Jamie Collins – Never one to put up monster sack numbers during his eight-year career, Collins is more about being a versatile, all-around player. Yes, he can get after the quarterback, evidenced by his 7.0 sacks a year ago. But he’s also had three different 100-tackle seasons during his career, a sign that he’s able to also play against the run. He’s been really good in two stints with the Patriots, while just so-so during three years with the Browns. So it’ll all be about fit with Collins.
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Realistic Options for the Broncos
1. Jeremiah Attaochu – The Broncos picked up the former second-round pick off the scrap heap prior to the start of last season and Attaochu turned into a pleasant surprise. After bouncing around the league a bit, he finally seemed to find a home in Vic Fangio’s defense, recording 3.5 sacks in very limited action. That being the case, it would be smart for the Broncos to build upon this success, bringing back a player who they know can thrive in their current scheme.
2. Carl Nassib – After two so-so seasons in Cleveland, Nassib found a home in Tampa Bay and posted back-to-back solid campaigns with the Buccaneers. In 2018, he had 6.5 sacks. And last year, he followed that up with another 6.0-sack season. That production came as a spot starter, showing that Nassib is able to make the most of his opportunities. He can come in as a reserve and provide instant production, giving a team great depth.
3. Jordan Jenkins – The former third-round pick was relatively unheralded in New York, but he was a productive player for the Jets during his four seasons. The past two years in particular were very solid, as Jenkins posted 7.0 and 8.0 sacks, respectively. A bit of a one-trick pony, teams will have to settle for Jenkins primarily rushing the passer. But if a player is going to have one skill, that’s not a bad one to possess.
