Denver Broncos: What the 2021 season means for Von Miller
Von Miller is out to prove himself yet again in a league that he once took by storm.
At 32 years old, and coming off an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for an entire season, Von Miller finds himself entering what could be a career-defining season.
Miller gave an update on his status leading up to the upcoming season:
"“I’m feeling good. My ankle is about 94 percent. The 6 percent I’ve got to get, I’ll have to get by rushing the passer in practice with pads on, leaning on guys, guys leaning on me.” – via CBS Denver"
Luckily for Miller, his return to the field shouldn’t be too strenuous with the assistance of Bradley Chubb working opposite him this season. For the first time since 2018, the Broncos will see their edge-rushing vision come to fruition as both Miller and Chubb appear to be full-go’s heading into training camp.
The last time this pass-rushing duo stayed healthy, it was responsible for 108 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 71 QB pressures and six forced fumbles. This production is the direct result of teams finding it difficult to double-team both Miller and Chubb at the same time, making it easier for them to get to the quarterback and disrupt opposing offenses.
Earlier this year, Chubb spoke on Miller’s ability to rush the passer one-on-one and how monumental this season could be for both of them.
"“I’ve said Von proved that nobody in this league can block him one-on-one, he can have his way and do whatever he wants in this league and get sacks on anybody he wants. The past two years, these injuries have taken away from us as an organization and we haven’t been able to show what we can do. With us on the field, it’s going to be huge.” – Bradley Chubb via Broncos PR"
But the pass-rushing duo isn’t the only one giving Denver’s defense a much-needed lift this upcoming season. George Paton took this offseason as an opportunity to revamp the secondary by bringing in corners Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby, and Patrick Surtain II.
The Broncos also made it a priority to re-sign their safety tandem in Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson in efforts to solidify their secondary over the top.
The last time the Broncos paired a shutdown secondary with a relentless pass-rush, it produced a Super Bowl-winning defense. Von Miller would be the first to attest to that, as he was partially responsible for the dismantling of Cam Newton and his best-ranked offense in the league that year.
Miller has a Super Bowl 50 MVP award to prove it. Miller now has his eyes set on recreating his production from that historical season and ascending back to the top of his game.
Proving his worth once again
It wasn’t too long ago that Miller’s future with the Broncos seemed uncertain. Fortunately for him, the team decided to pick up his contract option earlier this offseason which guaranteed $7 million of his salary and at least one more season in Denver.
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When asked how long he plans on playing in the NFL, Miller replied:
"“I’ve got a son, he’ll be here in about three or four weeks. I definitely want him to be able to see me play. That’s going to take about five to seven years. That’s what I have on my heart, that’s what I have on my mind, another five to seven years. Whatever God will give me, I’m going to take it.” – Via Mike Klis, Denver 9News"
For now, Miller is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. The chances of getting an extension done at some point throughout the season may be difficult given his age and the recency of his injury.
However, a good performance early on with little to no signs of regression could help open future negotiations and would be a first step in fulfilling his goal of playing until the age of 39.
His play in the upcoming months will not only dictate this season for the Broncos but his future in Denver as well.
How disruptive can he be? Is he the same Von Miller of years past? Will he be able to elevate his game to the top yet again?
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This will likely be the season that decides if he is indeed a Bronco for life.