Yes, Broncos Could Use Depth After Von Miller, Bradley Chubb. by Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 5, 2019
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Another pass rusher? Yes, Broncos could use depth after Von Miller, Bradley Chubb. By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 5, 2019 If the Broncos needed immediate, every-down help at outside linebacker, their decision would have been made Sunday by watching Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat run the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. The 260-pound Sweat blew up social media by posting a time of 4.60 seconds, a defensive lineman record. Coupled with his on-field production (22 sacks in 2017 and 2018), Sweat helped himself on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf. The Broncos are unlikely to go that direction with the 10th pick, because they have Von Miller and Bradley Chubb as book-end pass rushers. General manager John Elway, though, was asked last week about improving the pass-rushing depth. “You think we need another one?” he asked. “Everybody talks about one. We have two and you ask me about a third?” Well … yeah. “We’ll see,” Elway said. “The (free agent) market is big. There are a lot of outside ‘backers on the market as well as a lot of edge rushers in the draft. I think we’ll have an opportunity to get a third one, however that is — free agency, the draft or our own (free agent) with Shaq (Barrett).” Using one of their Day 3 picks (rounds 4-7) on a pass rusher would be a better financial option than dipping into free agency. Barrett has proclaimed his intent to be a starter, and that opportunity won’t be with the Broncos. His camp’s targets should be teams with enough salary cap space to splurge (Indianapolis and the New York Jets to name two). It is hard to imagine a scenario where former first-round pick Shane Ray would re-sign with the Broncos. That leaves Jeff Holland as the current third rush linebacker, behind Miller and Chubb. An undrafted free agent from Auburn last year, Holland spent most of 2018 on the practice squad before playing in three games (six tackles in 43 defensive snaps). There is playing time available. Barrett played 275 snaps last year and was slowed by a hip injury. Ray played 253 snaps, was hobbled by an ankle sprain and was a healthy scratch to end the season. Miller (14 1/2 sacks) and Chubb (12) accounted for 61.6 percent of the Broncos’ sacks last year (26 1/2 of 43). Just as the Broncos need an improved interior pass rush, they would benefit from added production from the backup outside rushers. Long gone by Day 3 will be Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, Kentucky’s Josh Allen, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell, Florida’s Jachai Polite, Florida State’s Brian Burns and Sweat. Mid- to late-round candidates could be Georgia’s D’Andre Walker, Michigan’s Chase Winovich and Oklahoma State’s Jordan Brailford. Walker (6-2/251) had 13 sacks and 24 1/2 tackles for lost yardage his final two years with Georgia, where he played for new Colorado coach Mel Tucker. Walker was Georgia’s defensive MVP as a senior and led the team in sacks (7 1/2) and tackles for loss (11) and specialized in making impact plays on third down. He also had four forced fumbles. Winovich (6-3/256) had 18 sacks and 44 1/2 tackles for lost yardage in 45 career games. Winovich arrived at Michigan as a linebacker, switched to tight end and then to defensive end. He was a third- team All-American in 2018 (five sacks). “The first thing that pops up on (every team’s) list is they just like how hard I work and my playing style and never taking a play off,” Winovich said. “I take that as a pretty big compliment. I pair that with some of explosiveness.” Brailford (6-3, 252) entered the draft instead of taking a sixth year of eligibility that was awarded because of a stress fracture injury. He had 15 sacks in 36 games. “I think it took a while (to get a rhythm back in 2017), but I made a couple of plays early, got my starting spot back and just took off from there,” Brailford said. “I was ready (to turn pro). I think I had done all I could at OSU and proven what I needed to.” Broncos’ Isaac Yiadom played through injured shoulder last season By Kyle Frederickson Denver Post March 5, 2019 Rookie cornerback Isaac Yiadom injured his shoulder against the 49ers in Week 14 last season. He kept playing. In all, 54 defensive snaps over the Broncos’ final two games. “It was tough,” Yiadom said, “but it’s part of the game.” Yiadom was all smiles Monday, though, about seven weeks removed from successful labrum surgery and speaking with reporters inside the Colorado State Capitol. He joined teammate tight end Troy Fumagalli, Broncos director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos, former safety Steve Atwater and others for testimony in support of House Bill 19-1083 — which requires athletic trainers in Colorado to be “licensed” rather than “registered” to ensure proper care and legality when practicing across state lines. A senate vote is now the last thing standing between the bill and the governor’s signature into law. Yiadom said his shoulder is “feeling great.” He credits the Broncos’ athletic training staff in allowing him to play the final two games of the year through injury. “Every single day I was in (the training room) before practice and after practice,” Yiadom said. “They were making sure I wasn’t doing anything to aggravate it, making sure I was ready for game day, icing it and giving me all the treatment I needed. After games, it would be pretty tough. But before the next game, it would be definitely stronger and I would have full range of motion so I was able to play.” Denver selected Yiadom with the No. 99 overall pick (third round) in the 2018 NFL draft. A rash of injuries in the Broncos’ defensive backfield led to an expedited learning curve. Yiadom appeared in 13 games with one start and compiled 20 tackles, three pass deflections and one interception. He was a regular on special teams. Yiadom has met briefly with the Broncos’ new coaching staff and said he’s already picked the brains of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and cornerbacks coach Renaldo Hill. The goal: regain 100-percent health by the start of OTAs in May. “I’ve been learning a little bit from them,” Yiadom said, “and I’m excited to work with them.” With NFL free agency essentially starting in 7 days, a look at Broncos’ shopping list By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 5, 2019 Given the way John Elway operates, free agency opens not on March 13, but one week from today. Yes, next Monday, March 11, is only when the free-agent negotiating window is to open. The start of free agency doesn’t officially begin until 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. Elway likes to get ahead of the frenzy. Last season, the Broncos’ general manager finished a deal with quarterback Case Keenum for two years and $36 million on the first day of legal tampering, two days before the market opened. When Keenum didn’t work out, Elway went to Plan B for this season and traded for Baltimore’s Joe Flacco on Valentine’s Eve – a full month before the free-agent and trade season opens. The point is, Bronco fans should be ready for Elway to make another major move as soon as one week from today. Here are the Broncos positions of need, and free agent players that could be on their shopping list: CORNERBACK The Broncos are so depleted at this position they need to pick up a No. 2 and No. 3 cornerback to play alongside Chris Harris Jr. They’ll try to fill one hole in free agency. Among those available are Ronald Darby, Bryce Callahan, Pierre Desir, Bashaud Breeland, Steven Nelson, Kareem Jackson, Darqueze Dennard, Justin Coleman, Jason Verrett, and the Broncos’ own Bradley Roby. Callahan played the previous four years with Broncos’ head coach Vic Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell in Chicago. SAFETY This position would come into play only if the Broncos move on from Darian Stewart and they don’t think any of their young backups – Will Parks, Dymonte Thomas and Jamal Carter – are quite ready to become a full-time starter alongside Justin Simmons. The Giants’ Landon Collins would be a splash signing. Then there’s Adrian Amos, a four-year starter for Fangio and Donatell with the Chicago Bears. Amos could help set the defense for the other Bronco players. RECEIVER I heard from a couple people at the combine the Broncos have interest in Tampa Bay’s Adam Humphries. How much interest won’t be known until the free-agent negotiating window opens a week from today when it becomes time to talk money. Humphries is coming off the best year among all free agent-eligible receivers as he had 76 catches for 816 yards and five touchdowns for the Bucs in 2018. Humphries is also a solid punt returner, which would fill another underrated void on the Broncos’ roster. Humphries works out of the slot and though Denver already has a very good slot receiver in Emmanuel Sanders, Sanders’ preference is to stay outside. Other free-agent receivers who would give the Broncos a boost are the Eagles’ Golden Tate and Mike Wallace, the Chargers’ Tyrell Williams, Baltimore’s John Brown (if Broncos are convinced his sickle cell trait won’t be a problem), Washington’s Jamison Crowder, Jacksonville’s Donte Moncrief and Cleveland’s Breshad Perriman.