The Denver Broncos already added Randy Gregory via free agency to pair with Bradley Chubb as a 1-2 punch this offseason, but in a passing league, you can never have too many pass rushers. So it appears the team’s poised to target OLB prospects in the NFL draft this weekend.
Especially with modern NFL rules favoring the offense.
With Gregory presumably set to fill the void left after the Von Miller trade, the team needs depth behind Chubb, Gregory, Malik Reed, and Jonathon Cooper. Like last season, if multiple pass-rushers miss time, the Broncos’ pash rush likely disappears. Depth is paramount. As opposed to vet bridge option Teddy Bridgewater under center with a low ceiling, this hypothetical simply can not actualize with Russell Wilson in the fold and the Broncos’ Super Bowl window wide open.
Broncos general manager George Paton believes edge rusher is the deepest position in this year’s class, saying, “I would say that would be the strength. There are other positions that are strong, but I think edge is probably the No. 1 strength [of the class].”
To the point of modern NFL rules favoring the offense, Paton may draft multiple OLB prospects, adding, “If we take a pass rusher, that has nothing to do with Bradley [Chubb’s contract]. We can’t have enough [pass rushers like] Randy Gregory, Malik Reed, Jonathon Cooper — that’s how you win when you get a wave.
“You get a wave of rushers, and you get an offense that can score points, you get leads, and then you throw this pass rush at them. You look at the Rams, you look at the teams that had success over the years — Indianapolis with Peyton [Manning], or Denver with Peyton. You get the lead, you add the pass rushers, [and] you let them go.”
Although the Broncos don’t draft until Friday, the team notably has a second-round pick, two third-round picks and two fourth-round picks. Of course, the team used their original first- and second-round picks to “draft” Wilson. The move should help the Broncos have aplenty of leads to let their pass rushers pin their ears back in next season.
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