Denver Broncos bring in former Pro Bowl LB for visit at camp
The Denver Broncos may be looking to address their depth at the linebacker position. They brought in veteran Joe Schobert for a visit.
The Denver Broncos might be looking to upgrade their depth at the linebacker position as training camp is now four days in.
The team reportedly brought in veteran and former Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert for a visit over the weekend.
The Broncos hosted veteran LB Joe Schobert on a free agent visit.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 30, 2022
Just a few days into training camp, what do we know regarding the Broncos’ inside linebacker position?
Well, it’s clear that the depth is not very good.
Actually, there’s just not much depth in general.
The Broncos’ top backups right now behind the clear “starters” Josey Jewell and Jonas Griffith are free agent signing Alex Singleton and 2020 draft pick Justin Strnad.
Although Singleton and Strnad could wind up being key special teams contributors, neither player is making the kinds of headlines we’ve been seeing from the likes of Jonas Griffith thus far.
With no pads on, that might be a lot to ask, or maybe it’s really not.
A player like Joe Schobert could come in and really fortify the depth at the position, but make no mistake — nobody’s taking Jonas Griffith’s spot on top of the depth chart. He could be the Denver Broncos’ top breakout player on the defensive side of the ball in 2022.
Schobert made the Pro Bowl in 2017 as a member of the Cleveland Browns with 144 total tackles, three sacks, and three forced fumbles.
He’s racked up the majority of his 661 career tackles over the last five years and has been capable in coverage with 30 career pass deflections and 10 interceptions.
As a big-money free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, Schobert started all 16 games and put up good numbers, but he ended up getting sent to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 where he again played a full-time role.
It will be interesting to see what kind of role Schobert agrees to if he does sign with the Denver Broncos.
The former fourth-round pick is obviously most likely holding out for a starting opportunity whether it’s in Denver or somewhere else, and right now, that opportunity just isn’t there in Denver.
He’d be part of the second unit, likely with Alex Singleton.
In that regard, I think Schobert would be an excellent depth pickup for the Broncos but will the longtime starter agree to that kind of diminished role?
We’ll find out soon enough as the Denver Broncos are off on Sunday and will have time to reassess the roster and perhaps make some transactions if need be.