Denver Broncos: Which pass rushers are making the team in 2021?

The Denver Broncos have the potential to be the best defense in the NFL in the 2021 season. If they’re going to live up to the lofty expectations that will be heaped upon them, no doubt, the Broncos are going to need productivity off the edge in a big way.

The return of a healthy Von Miller and a hopefully fully healthy Bradley Chubb gives the Denver Broncos arguably the best edge duo in the entire league. The inclusion of Malik Reed, who has effectively been a starter for the Broncos his first two years in the NFL as an undrafted player out of Nevada, gives the Broncos an enviable trio of players who excel both at rushing the quarterback and playing the run.

The big question coming out of OTAs regarding the team’s pass rushers will be which guys make it behind the top three.

It could be that someone who is not presently on the roster makes it. I have talked recently about the possibility of adding a veteran “hedge” of sorts off the edge in the event that one of Miller or Chubb goes down with an injury, which has happened now in consecutive seasons.

Someone like Justin Houston or Vic Beasley would be tremendous for the Denver Broncos to bring in, both for different reasons. Houston obviously would require a spot in the rotation where Beasley would be a nice training camp dart throw.

Who is making the Denver Broncos’ roster at OLB/Edge?

For the time being, there are plenty of young players on the roster who are both unproven and exciting. In the 2020 offseason, the Denver Broncos — along with every other NFL team — did not have the benefit of preseason games or even intrasquad scrimmages to really get great looks at the potential of pass rushers either on their own roster or around the league.

With both intrasquad practices and preseason games back in 2021, the benefits of them return as well.

Although preseason football is not everyone’s favorite brand, it’s seemingly been a hotbed for the Denver Broncos of late to discover pass rushing talent. Shaquil Barrett really put on a show in the early years of his career during preseason play, as did Malik Reed, more recently.

Which players are going to step up in 2021 behind Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Malik Reed? Let’s take a look.