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4 major positives for the Denver Broncos in a lost season

By Sayre Bedinger

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) celebrates with linebacker Kenny Young (41) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) and linebacker Malik Reed (59) after scoring a touchdown on an interception in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) celebrates with linebacker Kenny Young (41) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) and linebacker Malik Reed (59) after scoring a touchdown on an interception in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Broncos, Jonas Griffith
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith (50) celebrates after a play in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

4 positives in the Broncos’ lost 2021 season

3. The team has seemingly discovered some solutions at linebacker

Taking a slight microscope look at the roster for a moment, one area going into the 2021 season where I think pretty much everyone would have said this Broncos team had weakness was at the inside linebacker position, at least as far as beyond 2021.

Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson are both slated for free agency in 2022, and both players were opening day starters in 2021 lost to pectoral injuries.

Losing guys to injury is never ideal, but in the process of attempting to adequately replace both Jewell and Johnson, the Broncos may have stumbled upon a very intriguing starting duo going forward.

Namely, third-round pick Baron Browning has looked very nice in the early goings of his NFL career, and if he can stay healthy, he is probably the LB1 on this team in 2022.

Next to him, the Broncos made a trade just before the season for Jonas Griffith, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers.

Griffith has been a stud for the team late in the 2021 season and is making plays all over the field.

Both Browning and Griffith have shown some level of consistency with the reps they’ve been given, and although they have plenty of room for growth, those two guys are athletic unicorns at a position where athletic freaks are certainly on-trend.

The discovery of Griffith late this season and the selection of Browning in the 2021 NFL Draft may have given the Broncos a solution at a problem area going forward in 2022.

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