Derek Wolfe, age 28
Because of his effectiveness when able to play at full strength, no one realizes that Derek Wolfe has not played a full 16-game season in the NFL since 2014.
With 24.5 sacks in the first six years of his career, Wolfe has provided the Broncos with as well-rounded of a base defensive end as they could possibly hope for.
He’s big, strong, athletic, and able to get pressure on the quarterback while also making tackles for loss.
He’s one of the most underrated defensive ends in football and in 2017, he was doing far more ‘grunt’ work than he has throughout his career.
Struggling with injuries, Wolfe finished last season playing in just 11 games, his lowest single-season total since he was initially injured in the 2013 preseason.
Wolfe had surgery done and was placed on injured reserve last season, and said this offseason that he feels the best he ever has physically. He got himself right and is poised to have a monster season for the Broncos, entering the prime years of his NFL career.
If Wolfe can stay healthy, he’s a force at the strongside defensive end position.