Denver Broncos: Which pass rushers are making the team in 2021?
Peter Kalambayi
The final player competing for a roster spot at the outside linebacker position for the Denver Broncos — for the time being — is former Houston Texans sixth-round pick Peter Kalambayi.
Kalambayi became an instant key contributor on the Houston Texans’ special teams units in 2018 and has played 784 special teams snaps total in his first three NFL seasons. The Denver Broncos could be looking at Kalambayi for a role in that regard immediately as he racked up 33 tackles in three seasons playing primarily on special teams.
The theme with these back-end roster guys competing for the final spot or two is elite athleticism. Kalambayi has outstanding measurables beyond height and weight.
Peter Kalambayi posted a sub 7.00 second cone time at his pro day, but landed an elite #RAS due to strong marks at the Combine. Great speed, agility, and explosiveness, his downside is size, like many other prospects in this class. pic.twitter.com/Yrv2cvv8X5
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 15, 2018
Entering his fourth NFL season, Kalambayi is clearly the most “proven” commodity the Denver Broncos have beyond Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Malik Reed off the edge. He has played significant special teams snaps and obviously, the Broncos feel good about his work in that phase of the game.
It will be crucial for these players to prove themselves over the course of the next two months with some substantial work in training camp and preseason games getting after the quarterback.
It’s one thing to be strong on special teams, but if you can be an actual asset in the pass rush rotation, that is going to make one of the league’s most talented defenses even stronger.