Denver Broncos |

Denver Broncos position preview: Bradley Chubb joins productive group of veteran linebackers

Editor’s note: One of a series looking at the position groups for the Broncos heading into training camp. Today: linebackers

Can a first-round draft pick look the part in non-padded practices?

Absolutely say Broncos players and coaches when asked about Bradley Chubb and what he showed during the offseason program.

“A great player,” inside linebacker Todd Davis said.

“He brings a whole different demeanor to the game,” left offensive tackle Garett Bolles said.

“He’s great. A phenomenal athlete,” pass-rushing consultant DeMarcus Ware said.

The praise, combined with his draft status (fifth overall) and college production (20 1/2 sacks in his final two college seasons), puts Chubb in the spotlight when training camp opens next week.

The Broncos will start camp with 15 linebackers. They carried eight for last year’s season opener and using that as a barometer, six should be considered locks to make the final roster: Chubb, Von Miller, Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray (if recovered after last month’s wrist surgery) at outside linebacker and Davis and Brandon Marshall inside.

Inside, Zaire Anderson, Joseph Jones, Jerrol Garcia-Williams and rookies Josey Jewell and Keishawn Bierria could be competing for two roster spots.

Outside, rookie Jeff Holland will need a strong preseason to force the Broncos to keep five edge rushers instead of four, which they carried last year.

In base defense situations, it starts with Davis and Marshall. If they are effective stopping the run, Miller, Chubb and Co. will get more chances to rush the quarterback.

Added via waivers in November 2014, Davis played the next year-and-a-half as a reserve before replacing Danny Trevathan. In two years as a starter, Davis has 179 tackles. Last year, he had 82 tackles (second on the team) despite playing only 52.6 percent of the snaps.

Marshall will remain an every-down player (91.9 percent of the snaps last year and a team-high 106 snaps). Something to monitor will be his weight. Listed at 250 pounds, Marshall said last month he was at 225, down 11 pounds from the start of organized team activities. The natural question is how will a lighter Marshall hold up playing inside linebacker.

“I want to be able to move more efficiently,” Marshall said. “I could be 240, but if I’ve got a lot of body fat, it’s just going to slow me down.”

The ability to play special teams will be a deciding factor for the back-up inside linebackers. Anderson has 10 special teams tackles in two years. Jewell (a fourth round pick) and Bierria (a sixth round pick) had 437 and 242 tackles in college, respectively.

In pass-rushing situations, it will be all about Miller and Chubb.

Miller has been first- or second-team All Pro in each of his six full seasons (he played nine games in 2013). But last year’s 10 sacks were his fewest in a full season, down from 13 1/2 in 2016.

Chubb’s presence could be a boon for Miller. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods has options because he will move Chubb to defensive end in certain packages, which could free up Miller.

Chubb will receive expert training from Ware and Miller.

“I think he’s getting the best of both worlds,” Miller said. “You’ve got ‘Captain Football,’ in DeMarcus and then you’ve got me that’s going to keep it real about everything. DeMarcus taught me so much so hopefully (Chubb will) be able to learn some of the same stuff.”

Barrett, a free agent after this season, played 667 snaps in 2017 but Chubb’s presence likely means that total drops. He has 11 sacks in 48 games.

Ray is also a free agent next March. If his recovery from a fourth wrist surgery in 10 months allows him to return early in training camp, he could be the Week 1 starting strong-side linebacker ahead of Chubb.

Holland is an intriguing prospect. Still only 20 years old, he didn’t start until his junior year and capitalized with 45 tackles and 10 sacks for Auburn.

Sunday: Quarterbacks.

Denver Broncos linebackers

Source: overthecap.com for salary information.