Bradley Chubb

Chubb was absolutely dominant as a rookie, but an ACL injury ruined any shot at a massive sophomore leap. The 24-year-old bounced back with a vengeance last year, earning his first Pro-Bowl nod on the back of top-15 figures in both quarterback hurries and pressures, while accumulating 7.5 sacks. The talented pass rusher did all of that without Von Miller, who missed the entire 2020 season due to an ankle injury. Chubb underwent ankle surgery in late May, which will keep him out of OTAs, but the 2018 first-round pick is still expected to be available at some point during training camp.

Chubb came on strong in 2018 with 12 sacks during his rookie campaign. He, and the Broncos defense as a whole, were slow to start in 2019, and Chubb didn't record his first sack until Week 4's loss to Jacksonville, the same game in which he suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Coach Vic Fangio's scheme relies on sending just three or four rushers and playing sound zone coverage. Chubb will be counted on, not only to return to 2018 form, but to take the pressure off of Von Miller, who had one of the least productive seasons of his career in 2019.

If you told the Broncos' brass before the 2018 Draft that Chubb would end his rookie campaign with 12 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles, the only thing that might have changed is how quickly they called in the pick. That success has placed extra pressure on Chubb and his tandem partner, Von Miller, as head coach Vic Fangio has not been shy in his belief that both stars can and should improve. Fangio's defense plays more zone and blitzes less than the old scheme, meaning Chubb will likely have more time to rush the passer, but more pressure to get there. The departure of backups Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett also likely means that Chubb will see the field even more in 2019.

GM John Elway said that in all the pre-draft mocks the team performed up to draft day, they never had the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Award winner getting to them at No. 5. When Chubb did, the Broncos scrapped plans to trade back, seeking to provide Von Miller with the partner he has lacked since the retirement of DeMarcus Ware. Chubb, who picked up 10 sacks in each of his final two seasons at N.C. State, is not just a pass rusher, he's an elite edge setter that finished his career as the ACC's all-time leader in career tackles for loss with 54. Coach Vance Joseph has been adamant that the rookie will play on the outside, but don't underestimate the damage his 269-pound frame can do on the inside on subpackages, allowing for mismatches alongside lighter pass rushers such as Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett.