The Denver Broncos have a new coaching staff in place, and some free agents could follow former coaches to new teams in the 2022 offseason.
The Denver Broncos have a brand-new coaching staff for the 2022 NFL season, and although some coaches have been retained from the previous staff, they have been few and far between.
One coach who has multiple offers elsewhere is former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who has been a longtime right-hand man for Vic Fangio. It seems as though Fangio and Donatell are poised to go their separate ways in the 2022 offseason as Donatell initially appeared headed for the Seattle Seahawks.
Now, it seems as though he’s going to become the defensive coordinator of Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings.
Which Broncos players might go with Ed Donatell to the Vikings?
Ed Donatell has emerged as the favorite or the Vikings defensive coordinator position, sources tell @DanGrazianoESPN and me. Seattle - which was hiring him as a defensive assistant - is now bracing to lose him. New coach Kevin O’Connell getting plenty of experience on defense.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 9, 2022
Of course, Donatell’s new boss, Rams OC Kevin O’Connell, has to coach in the Super Bowl on Sunday before anything can be finalized. With that said, we all know these things get solidified behind the scenes and there’s no doubt that Donatell will try and recruit some of his former players to the Vikings with him.
When you’re installing a new defensive scheme, it’s always nice to have players that know your terminology and can help translate for the rest of their teammates. Let’s take a look at some players Donatell might try to bring with him to Minnesota.
1. Josey Jewell, LB
One of the easiest ways to install a new defensive scheme? Get a guy who will wear the green dot that speaks the language fluently.
Josey Jewell has been working with Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell the past three seasons, of course, and had emerged as the quarterback of their defense last season prior to a pectoral injury.
Jewell should make a full recovery from that injury and pick up right where he left off. The former fourth-round pick out of Iowa is a rock-solid three-down linebacker who may not be elite in coverage, but he’s unlocked an aspect of his game over the last two seasons that could be heavily utilized at his next stop — blitzing.
With Anthony Barr and Nick Vigil slated for free agency, Jewell could be a candidate to return to the Midwest and be the QB of Donatell’s defense in Minnesota.