Baron Browning will move into a pass rush role for Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are reportedly going to have Baron Browning working at outside linebacker in the 2022 offseason with an emphasis on pass rush.
After adding Randy Gregory to the pass rush, the Denver Broncos apparently weren’t done.
According to 9News Denver Broncos insider Mike Klis, the Broncos are planning on moving 2021 third-round pick Baron Browning to the outside linebacker position in the 2022 offseason with an emphasis on getting after the quarterback.
Singleton add especially key as source says Broncos plan to give Baron Browning look at outside linebacker this year where he will work with Bert Watts, one of Hackett's many up-and-coming young coaches. Browning went thru similar inside-outside LB shift at Ohio State. #9sports https://t.co/GVos8VBRPO
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) March 21, 2022
Broncos news: Baron Browning switching positions in 2022
Coming out of Ohio State, it was abundantly clear that Baron Browning had a lot of untapped potential in the pass rush department.
I have been longing for the Broncos to utilize Browning in a pass rush capacity, and now it appears as though they finally agree.
Browning is a freak among freaks at the off-ball linebacker position. In terms of his size (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) and athleticism, there are very few in NFL history at the position who have the type of gifts that you simply cannot teach players that Browning has in spades.
He’s fast, he’s explosive, he changes directions quickly, he’s got good length, and he hits hard.
Browning is, in many ways, an ideal type of prospect to come off the edge at the NFL level and it now appears the Broncos are going to have him focus on that aspect of his game with new assistant coach Bert Watts.
Watts is the new outside linebackers coach for Ejiro Evero’s defense, and he’s going to have a fun ball of clay to mold in Baron Browning. The good news for Watts, Evero, and everyone in Broncos Country?
Playing off the edge won’t be anything “new” to Browning. He’s done it plenty. Back at the Senior Bowl in 2021, they had Browning playing off the edge at times and he proved he can not only rush the passer but set the edge with his upper body strength.
Since the report from Klis came about, many have jumped into my mentions on Twitter asking what the move means for Bradley Chubb. Chubb, who is coming off of another injury-plagued season with the Broncos, is understandably the player in question with the signing of Randy Gregory at the other EDGE position.
I feel like the Broncos are going to keep Chubb this season and hope that he plays his way to another contract. His trade value can’t be high at this point, and taking a shot on him staying healthy and becoming the player he’s capable of becoming is much more worthwhile than whatever draft compensation he would fetch at this stage.
Chubb should be back, and having Browning as another chess piece off the edge gives the Denver Broncos options.
Perhaps more pressing would be the question mark left behind at inside linebacker. Browning has been a presumed starter next to Josey Jewell but Klis seems to think that Alex Singleton will start next to Jewell.
I’m not so sure about that.
Another athletic freak on the roster is Jonas Griffith, a trade acquisition from 2021. Griffith played very well down the stretch last season and should be given the opportunity to solidify himself as an every-week starter.
Could this move open the door back up for Bobby Wagner? Anthony Barr? Alexander Johnson? Kenny Young?
There are still plenty of other free agency options if the Broncos don’t want to roll with Singleton, whose contract would seem to indicate he was more so signed for his special teams abilities than anything else.