Predicting the Denver Broncos starting defense for the 2022 season

Predicting Denver Broncos’ starting defense

Linebackers – OLB Bradley Chubb, ILB Baron Browning, ILB Josey Jewell, OLB Nik Bonitto

So, if Randy Gregory is starting with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end, that would mean that Nik Bonitto could start opposite Bradley Chubb in this defense, with Baron Browning and Josey Jewell on the inside.

I would expect Denver to work Browning in off the EDGE and on the inside, kind of like Micah Parsons in Dallas.

With the addition of Nik Bonitto, Browning wouldn’t have to move to edge rusher full time, if that’s what Denver was thinking initially.

I think no matter what, you need to have the four best linebackers out on the field, and I don’t see guys like Jonas Griffith, Alex Singleton, Malik Reed, or Jonathon Cooper making enough impact to warrant them starting.

If anything, that’s a very good group of backups.

With this unit, you have Browning, who is uber-athletic, and Jewell, who is a more old-school instinctual player.

With Chubb and Bonitto, you have two players who have displayed elite ability to get to the passer, so we could expect high sack totals from both guys.

Also, by starting Gregory along the defensive line, you allow yourself to have all of Gregory, Chubb, and Bonitto on the field at the same time, which could be a lethal mix for opposing offenses to plan for.