Denver Broncos: 4 projected starters who could be on the bench in Week 1
Josey Jewell
Jewell stepped up and had the best season of his career in 2020, finishing second on the team with 112 tackles. He looked a lot more like the player the team thought it was getting when they selected him in the fourth round in 2018 than he did in year’s prior.
Jewell will be entering his fourth season in the league and it will be a contract year for him. However, he has a couple of young bucks behind him that will be looking for as much playing time as possible.
Both Justin Strnad and Baron Browning would like to have Jewell’s starting job.
Strnad was a player the team was excited about last season, which was his rookie year, but a wrist injury ended his season before it even started. He will be back looking to make a name for himself.
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In the third round of this year’s draft, the Broncos grabbed Browning, a pick may feel was a steal at No. 105 overall. Both Browning and Strnad offer much more athleticism than Jewell which could lead to one huge thing… being able to cover tight ends.
That has been a major issue for this Denver defense for years and Jewell is not going to be the guy that turns it around. What Jewell will give you is a sure-tackling linebacker who brings his lunch pail and is ready every week.
But both of the young guys behind him offer a more dynamic aspect on the field and are players that if they show they can cover the Travis Kelce’s and Darren Waller’s of the league, will supplant Jewell from that starting role.
Jewell will be the favorite to line up next to Alexander Johnson at inside linebacker in Week 1, but both Browning and Strnad will have the chance to take that spot if they offer the same value as tacklers and show they can make plays in pass defense.