Broncos GM George Paton doesn’t commit to new deal for Bradley Chubb
Apr 22, 2022, 11:17 AM
Pass rushers are always a need in today’s NFL.
“You just can’t have enough pass rushers,” Broncos GM George Paton said at his pre-draft press conference on Friday morning.
Paton signed Randy Gregory from the Cowboys this offseason to pair with Bradley Chubb. He also has Malik Reed and Jonathon Cooper, but there’s still plenty of chatter edge-rusher will be a priority in next week’s NFL Draft.
“I think the edge class is really strong. Everyone needs pass rushers and I think there’s a number of pass rushers in this draft. I think edge is probably the No. 1 strength,” Paton said.
Even though the Broncos don’t have a first-round pick thanks to the Russell Wilson trade, where they select a pass-rusher could be an indicator about Chubb’s future in Denver. He’s entering the last year of his rookie contract after the Broncos picked up his fifth-year option this past April. Still, a long-term contract isn’t done and Paton wasn’t willing to commit to one when 104.3 The Fan’s DMac asked him about it.
“I hope Bradley is here a long time. I know he’s going into the last year of his deal. I told you how much I appreciate Bradley, how he’s come back from the injuries. This is the first offseason he hasn’t had the rehab, he’s out there working. Really high on him as a person, the passion, the grit, the physicalness,” Paton said.
When DMac followed up if they would get a new contract signed, Paton deflected like you would expect a savvy GM to do.
“We got a lot going on. We’re focused on the draft. We’re focused on the offseason. We’ll just kind of see how that plays out,” Paton said.
Chubb, who had zero sacks in an injury ravaged 2021, is scheduled to make $13.926M this upcoming season. His best year was his rookie season in 2018 where he picked up 12.5 sacks. A new rookie could be joining him, Gregory, Reed and Cooper in Denver’s pass rushing room very soon.
“You just can’t have enough pass rushers. If we take a pass rusher it has nothing to do with Bradley, we can’t have enough. That’s how you win, you get a wave, you a get a wave of rushers. And you have an offense that can score points, you get leads and then you throw this pass rush at them. I think that’s the formula and you just can’t have enough of those players,” Paton said.
When healthy, Chubb is a dynamic player and threat off the edge. The problem is, health has been a major issue two of the last three seasons. The former No. 5 overall pick has played just 25 of 49 possible games. It could be a “prove it” year for Chubb to earn a new contract, as Paton certainly didn’t sound like a man ready to dish one out just yet.
How next week’s draft goes could also be a big indicator whether or not Chubb is a Bronco in 2023 and beyond.
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