Brandt: Denver Broncos can’t lose this pending free agent
According to Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt, the Denver Broncos cannot afford to let this free agent walk.
The Denver Broncos have some decisions to make during free agency. Among those free agents are starting inside linebackers Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell. However, it’s another inside linebacker we’re talking about today.
Former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt came out with one player on each AFC (and NFC) team that should not hit free agency. For the Denver Broncos, he listed a backup to Johnson and Jewell: Kenny Young.
Young arrived to the Broncos via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams during the season and logged 29 tackles with the team after beginning the year with 46 tackles as a Ram.
Young played 645 snaps during the 2021 season.
As I mentioned, Johnson and Jewell are currently set to hit free agency. While it’s possible they (or at least one of them) return to the Broncos, keeping Young as a depth piece would be a smart move.
I fully expect the Broncos to look at free agency when it comes to inside linebacker help. If the team does lost both Johnson and Jewell, re-signing Young should be the move. The Broncos do have Justin Strnad and Baron Browning as backups and I think that they will see plenty of playing time for the team in 2022.
Unfortunately, Young has not been all that great in pass coverage. He allowed 16-of-17 targets to be completed while with the Broncos last year and 24-of-29 with the Rams earlier in the year.
It is also important to note that Young was with now-Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero when both of them were with the Rams earlier in the year. Continuity could prove to pay off in this new defense.
If I’m being honest, I’m a little bit surprised that Brandt’s choice wasn’t outside linebacker Stephen Weatherly. Weatherly had 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the Broncos in 2022 following the trade that sent Von Miller to the Rams.