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Denver Broncos: Outside linebacker 2018 position preview

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 10: Qutside linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets after beating Brandon Shell #72 on a spin move during the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 10, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 10: Qutside linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets after beating Brandon Shell #72 on a spin move during the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 10, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos are absolutely loaded at the outside linebacker position, starting with Von Miller. We preview the entire position group…

Denver Broncos Von Miller
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 1: Outside linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos walks off the field after a 16-10 win over the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Despite the fact that, on paper, the Denver Broncos have had the most enviable group of outside linebackers since the start of the 2014 season, sacks have not been easy to come by.

In 2014 — DeMarcus Ware’s first season in Denver — the Broncos racked up 41 total sacks as a team. In 2015, that number jumped up to a league-high 52.

Both seasons, Miller and Ware led the way, combining for 32.5 of those 93 sacks.

In 2016, the Broncos’ sack numbers dipped back down to a (still respectable) 42 as a team, though Ware was replaced in second place by Shane Ray, who had a career-high eight sacks as the Broncos failed to reach the postseason for the first time in the John Elway era.

In 2017, the Broncos took a huge dip without a healthy Ray and Ware retired. They finished the year with just 33 sacks, a number far too low for a team that is already getting at least 10 every season from Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller.

The Broncos identified that area of weakness and attacked this offseason, with a bit of good fortune.

Let’s take a look at the team’s current situation at outside linebacker player-by-player…

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