Surprising free agent the Denver Broncos could prioritize
The Denver Broncos will have plenty of big decisions to make ahead of 2022 NFL Free Agency, including prioritizing a player that might surprise some.
So much focus for the Denver Broncos in the coming weeks will be on the quarterback position, and rightfully so. As of right now, all options at the quarterback position remain on the table.
Outside of the quarterback position, general manager George Paton will have an interesting dilemma on his hands at the linebacker position, where this year’s free agency class is fascinating.
As it turns out, the Denver Broncos actually have three of those intriguing players headed to 2022 NFL Free Agency, all three of which were starters for the team at one point or another last season.
Which free agent linebacker might the Denver Broncos prioritize?
Although it might surprise some people in Broncos Country, former fourth-round pick Josey Jewell — one of the most improved players on the team the last couple of seasons before a pectoral injury early in 2021 — could be the top priority for Paton and company to bring back.
"“So we have Josey Jewell and A.J. Johnson [who] are free agents, so we’ll look at them,” Paton said. “I like both of them. The coaches have to watch them. But obviously, we missed them when they were out. I know Josey was kind of the glue, and A.J. is a real physical presence in the run game.Broncos GM George Paton via DenverBroncos.com"
Paton understands the importance of building depth especially at a position like linebacker. Even with Jewell and Johnson on the roster last year as well as Justin Strnad coming back from injury, Paton brought in Baron Browning in the NFL Draft and then Jonas Griffith in a trade.
Those two — Browning and Griffith — finished the year as starters on the Denver defense and have given many fans hope that they might be able to start for the foreseeable future, but Jewell’s time may not be up in Denver just yet.
Although Jewell ascended under Vic Fangio, Ed Donatell, and former linebackers coach Reggie Herring, he was not drafted by that staff (Jewell was drafted in the final year of the Vance Joseph regime) and he might be the front office’s top choice to be the “quarterback” of the defense going into 2022.
At least, that’s what Paton’s comments sort of lead you to believe.
Although Kenny Young also makes a ton of sense given the fact that he played in Los Angeles with the Rams where Ejiro Evero (future Denver Broncos defensive coordinator) was coaching, Jewell was probably the Broncos’ best player at linebacker.
Bringing him back and letting Baron Browning and Jonas Griffith battle it out for the starting spot beside him?
That would give the Broncos some enviable depth at a crucial position.
There’s also no guarantee that you would bring Josey Jewell back on a long-term deal. Perhaps coming off of a pectoral injury, he would be willing to sign a prove-it deal to hit free agency again in 2023.
Given how many games Denver Broncos linebackers missed in 2021 due to injury, it would be more surprising to see Paton undervalue this position in free agency.
The development of both Browning and Griffith has certainly given the front office and new coaching staff something to think about, but with Paton calling Josey Jewell the “glue” of that unit, it’s really tough to see a scenario in which the Broncos just let him walk to free agency without an offer in place.
Even with the midseason trade for Kenny Young as well as the trade to acquire Jonas Griffith, we could see the Denver Broncos bring The Outlaw back for a fifth season in orange and blue.