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Will the Denver Broncos double up at the edge position?

By Chandler Hyler

Denver Broncos offseason; Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates with the George Halas trophy after the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos offseason; Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates with the George Halas trophy after the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 26: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball after intercepting a pass by Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams (not in photo) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 26: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball after intercepting a pass by Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams (not in photo) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

2. Signing Anthony Barr and spending a premier pick on an edge

Another familiar face here for Denver Broncos’ General Manager, George Paton.

After tearing his pec in 2020, Barr followed up a missed 2020 season with 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions and 72 total tackles. While Barr signed a 5-year deal in 2018 worth $67.5 million, in efforts to dip under the cap, his contract was restructured.

In this restructure, part of the deal was that his contract would come off of the books automatically in 2022. Here we are, Barr is now a free agent. While he hasn’t had eye popping sack totals, Barr could be worth taking a flier on, if paired with Bradley Chubb and an elite, young prospect.

Barr would not compete with the likes of signing Von Miller or Chandler Jones, but he would provide a capable veteran who may carry a vote of confidence from George Paton.

If the Denver Broncos do own the ninth overall pick when the NFL Draft rolls around, this would be a good time to select the incredibly talented edge out of Michigan, David Ojabo.

Last season alone, Ojabo recorded 11 sacks and added 11 tackles for loss for the Wolverines. He possesses all of the requisite tools to become an elite pass rusher in the NFL and is my favorite edge out of this deep class.

High ceiling is what I think of when Ojabo comes to mind. According to PFF, he tallied a pass-rush grade of 86.9 on roughly 300 snaps. What is astounding is that Ojabo only saw the field for a total of 26 snaps prior to 2021.

He’s quick, accelerates through blocks and has a knack for the football. There are always comparisons for players when they come out of the draft, but Ojabo has an elite spin move that can be used inside or outside that has proven to trip up some quality collegiate tackles.

As a 6-foot-5, 250 pound stand up edge rusher, Ojabo’s game easily translates to the next level. One of my favorite characteristics of Ojabo is how active his hands are when he is going to sack the quarterback.

What you see with Ojabo is that he isn’t necessarily trying to sack the quarterback, but he is trying to attack the football. There was one prime example of this against the Nebraska Cornhuskers where he was closing the gap between him and the quarterback, but when he got there, he went with a double-hand swat of the football and knocked it loose instead of just spearing the quarterback.

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