The Denver Broncos roster is about set for the 2022 NFL season. Who can we expect to start on the defensive side of the ball when the season opens?
The Denver Broncos defense is set to have a few new faces when the 2022 NFL season opens in a few months.
George Paton made it a priority to get better on that side of the ball, even though the team boasted one of the best overall units in the NFL. With the signings of Randy Gregory, D.J. Jones, K’Waun Williams, and drafting Nik Bonitto, the Broncos may have four or more new defensive starters for 2022.
Obviously, Denver has been known for its defense for most of the last decade, and 2022 could be the same. Even with the addition of Russell Wilson, Denver may still be known for playing stout defense before anything else.
With a roster as complete as Denver’s it would be no surprise to see, for example, both units ranking in the top ten when the season ends.
It should be mostly straightforward to predict what the starting defense is going to look like when the season opens.
There may be some disagreements with the inside linebackers and perhaps at a position in the secondary, but the defense is mostly set, and the coaches know this.
So, who can we expect to start on defense for the Denver Broncos in the 2022 season?
Predicting Denver Broncos’ starting defense
Defensive line – DE Randy Gregory, NT D.J. Jones, DE Dre’Mont Jones
This one is something that people could disagree with. The issue we could have here is whether or not Gregory will be playing as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt, or if he would slide in across from Bradley Chubb as the other OLB.
I think since he was mostly a defensive end in 2021 with the Cowboys, he’ll be a defensive end in Denver, playing along the front three with the Jones “brothers”
Honestly, this is a scary defensive line. Both Gregory and Dre’Mont Jones are great at generating pressure, and D.J. Jones might be the best run stopper in the NFL.
I’m not sure there would be much better units in the NFL along the defensive line than this.
So, who starts at outside linebacker?
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.
Predicting Denver Broncos’ starting defense
Secondary – S Justin Simmons, S Caden Sterns, CB Patrick Surtain II, CB Ronald Darby
The only change here from last year to this year is Caden Sterns sliding in as the safety starting next to Simmons.
Kareem Jackson was recently re-signed, but I think his time starting week to week in Denver is about over.
Jackson’s age is simply catching up to him. He was an absolute stud during his three years with the team, and it’s cool that he was re-signed for a potential year four, but I think Caden Sterns showed a lot of promise last year during his rookie season and is someone who could take over the starting spot next to Simmons.
There’s also Jamar Johnson, another safety who was taken in the 2021 NFL draft who could potentially make some noise.
Even if Jackson isn’t starting in 2022 for the Denver Broncos, they still have the best secondary in the league.
The team did sign K’Waun Williams, who is going to be the new slot corner, and we also may get to see Michael Ojemudia after a disappointing situation overall in 2021.
Denver has decent depth in the secondary as well, so this might be the most complete unit on the defense.
Even if Kareem Jackson doesn’t start in 2022, Denver’s secondary is still poised to be among the league’s very best.
So, let’s put these players together so it’s easily viewable. How does this potential defense look?
- DE Randy Gregory
- NT D.J. Jones
- DE Dre’Mont Jones
- OLB Bradley Chubb
- OLB Nik Bonitto
- CB Ronald Darby
- S Justin Simmons
- S Caden Sterns
- CB Patrick Surtain
- LB Josey Jewell
- LB Baron Browning
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With a ton of youth and adequate veteran leadership, this defense is set to be stellar in 2022.