Denver Broncos: 5 free agents to sign before 2021 training camp

3. Justin Houston, EDGE

The Denver Broncos already have their top three edge spots solid with Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Malik Reed on the roster.

Behind those three guys, there are options with young players and possible camp surprises that could easily win roster spots, contribute on special teams, and keep developing.

This is more along the lines of a selfish idea for the Denver Broncos, but I think it’s one worth considering.

Over the last two years, we have seen Von Miller and Bradley Chubb play together for a total of four games no thanks to injuries. Injuries have robbed Denver Broncos fans of elite edge play in an elite defensive scheme, and although fill-ins like Malik Reed have done their jobs well, there’s no doubt that a dynamic presence is missing when one of Miller or Chubb is not on the field.

Over the course of a 17-game season, you’re going to have a lot of snaps to divvy out between your edge players. Malik Reed will certainly have a role in the 2021 season but the Denver Broncos don’t have another “closer” on the roster off the edge right now.

Justin Houston is 32 and was picked in the same vaunted 2011 NFL Draft class as Von Miller, but like Miller, Houston appears to be ageless. It doesn’t matter how many games this guy plays in, it seems he’s guaranteed for at least 8-10 sacks per year and his pressure production is not waning in efficiency.

Despite his snaps decreasing over the last three years from 719 to 674 to 608, his pressures have remained in the mid-to-late 20s (29, 28, 25).

Price is (or could be) the issue here, but if Houston still wants to play this season he might want to play with Von Miller and he would certainly work well in Vic Fangio’s defense.