Neither Bradley Chubb or Jerry Jeudy should be labeled a “bust”

In recent years, Broncos Country, fans and media, have been throwing around the word “bust” when discussing certain players on the Broncos roster that haven’t met expectations. Of the players currently on the Broncos roster, this term has been used to describe Bradley Chubb and Jerry Jeudy. While Chubb and Jeudy may not have met the lofty expectations set for them, neither player has been a bust.

Bradley Chubb’s time in Denver was divisive from the beginning. The Broncos drafted Chubb instead of selecting quarterback Josh Allen. That decision put Chubb’s career under a microscope. Chubb came into Denver with more pressure on him as he had to prove he was better than a franchise quarterback, which was always going to be a losing battle.

Given Josh Allen’s success in Buffalo, Chubb’s career has been judged harshly.

Chubb’s career in Denver has been up and down. Despite a slow start, Chubb had a standout rookie season, recording 12.5 sacks and was named to the All-Rookie team. Chubb’s sophomore season ended after four games when he tore his ACL. Chubb had zero sacks in those four games, but the entire defense was playing awful in its first season under Vic Fangio.

Chubb would return in 2020, record 7.5 sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl. It was a nice bounce back season, especially coming on an ACL injury. Furthermore, Von Miller missed the entire season allowing defenses to focus solely on Chubb.

Injuries would once again haunt Chubb as he missed the final two games of 2020 and the first 10 games in 2021. Upon his return late in 2021, Chubb was ineffective recording zero sacks. The recent disappointment of Chubb’s health is understandable, but it shouldn’t be the narrative of his entire career to this point.

It’s been frustrating for everyone that Chubb isn’t recognized as an elite pass rusher. He hasn’t had a start to his career like Elvis Dumervil or Von Miller. There’s likely nobody more frustrated than Chubb himself, but he almost broke the rookie sack record and was selected to a Pro Bowl. It would be wrong to pretend that Chubb has done nothing in his NFL career. Busts aren’t selected to the All-Rookie team and busts don’t make the Pro Bowl.

The criticism of Chubb is fair. Even with a Pro Bowl selection in 2020, it’s been a long time since we saw Chubb play unstoppable. His career has been unmemorable at times and that’s why he’s not currently mentioned among the NFL’s best, but he also has played well when on the field.

Chubb has had two injury-plagued seasons, but that doesn’t mean his two healthy seasons that yielded results should be ignored.

Jerry Jeudy was drafted 15th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft in what was the best wide receiver class of all-time. To many, Jeudy was the head of the class. Jeudy, like Chubb, has had an up and down experience in Denver. His rookie season showed flashes of brilliance and room growth. Jeudy had drops in key moments and one game against the Chargers where he continually dropped passes.

Jeudy bounced back from the Chargers game with a 90-yard, go-ahead touchdown late in a week 17 game with Raiders. Had Vic Fangio not bailed out the Raiders with timeouts, Jeudy would have ended the season on a high note. But because of a coaching blunder, Jeudy’s touchdown quickly faded in the minds of Broncos Country.

Jeudy was the star of Broncos Training Camp in 2021. Every day in camp, Jeudy was leaving his defensive teammates in the dust. Jeudy was injured in Week 1 against the Giants, however, and wouldn’t return until week eight against Washington. Once he returned, Jeudy didn’t have success. However, none of the Broncos offense found success in that stretch.

Jeudy has played his two seasons in Denver with mediocre at best quarterbacks and an atrocious offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur. Jeudy’s attitude could have been better and his social media antics didn’t endear him to fans. Jeudy’s big moments have not come often and 2022 needs to be the year he takes a leap, but it is easy to see his talent and that he belongs on an NFL field.

There’s no argument that Chubb and Jeudy have had disappointing starts to their careers, but it’s been just that, disappointing. To refer to either as a bust is hyperbolic and dramatic. A bust is somebody that you can’t justify putting on the field.

Paxton Lynch was a bust. There was no way the Broncos could play Lynch and maintain credibility. Lynch on the field was a detriment to his team’s success. The Broncos flat out couldn’t play Lynch.

That isn’t true with Chubb and Jeudy. Not only will they be on the field in 2022, but the Broncos are eager to play them both. Chubb will be starting and Jeudy will see significant reps. You don’t play busts, let alone give them significant playing time.

Russell Wilson at quarterback will provide Jeudy stability at quarterback and will put Chubb in the position to rush the passer with a lead. The failure at quarterback the last six seasons has impacted both players’ careers.

A bust is quickly out of the NFL. If Chubb or Jeudy were cut today, teams would line up to sign them.

Chubb and Jeudy aren’t on any ESPN lists and they’re not atop the Madden rankings, and they shouldn’t be. They’re not elite right now, but they have proven they belong in the NFL. It might be disappointing given the high expectations, but that doesn’t make them a bust.

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