As we gear up for the start of the Denver Broncos season, all eyes have been on Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense.
Fans and media have understandably been fixated on the development of the team’s first-rounder, as they hope Bo will Nix the Broncos’ curse at the quarterback position.
Many assumed that Nix would probably be the only exciting thing to look forward to this season, as the Vegas’ projected over/under of 5.5 wins for the Broncos suggests a serious lack of talent within the roster. However, camp practices and the first preseason game have shown flashes of a roster bejeweled with more exciting gems than initially thought.
If there is one aspect of the roster that has the potential to divert some of Broncos Country’s attention from the quarterback position, it is, surprisingly, Denver’s pass rush arsenal.
2023’s Disappointment
Now, yes, as many in Broncos Country know, the pass rush and run defense weren’t exactly elite units in 2023. In fact, the exact opposite was true, as they finished the season 30th in pass rush win rate and 28th in run stop win rate per ESPN.
Those numbers were partially deflated from the defense’s horrific start in Weeks 1-4, and there were certainly flashes from core pieces like Zach Allen, Baron Browning, Jonathan Cooper, and Nik Bonitto, but, overall, the group was still very disappointing last season.
However, much of the interior defensive line would often get pushed backward in the run game and failed to make huge contributors as pass rushers, preventing the front seven from being able to execute their responsibilities consistently. Furthermore, second-year linebacker Drew Sanders, who was potentially going to switch to edge rusher, will miss an extended period of time after suffering a torn Achilles during offseason training.
With all that in mind, the Denver Broncos knew that the front seven needed to be addressed as they entered the offseason.
Thankfully, general manager George Paton did exactly that, obtaining a total of five new defensive linemen and linebackers in free agency and the draft.
Headlined by the acquisitions of John Franklin-Myers, Jonah Elliss, and Malcolm Roach, the Broncos’ pass rush now has an exciting combination of floor and upside, which could help the unit go from a clear weakness to one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Notable New Additions
John Franklin-Myers – The Broncos’ trade for John Franklin-Myers from the New York Jets for just a sixth-round pick was one of their best moves of the offseason. Franklin-Myers presents a massive upgrade over the previous starter, Johnathan Harris, as he is a consistent disruptor who is extremely powerful at the point of attack.
Over the past four seasons, JFM has been one of the more underrated pass rushers in the league, as he is credited with more than 200 pressures and 17.5 sacks in that span. He reportedly has already been showing off his disruptive ability in camp, so he is showing no signs of regression heading into the season.
This is huge for the Broncos, as Franklin-Myers’ presence on the defensive line will open up many more opportunities for the rest of the front seven.
Malcolm Roach – While he is not expected to start for the Denver Broncos this year, former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Malcolm Roach was another extremely noteworthy addition to the Broncos’ defensive line.
With just one career sack, Roach isn’t exactly known for his pass-rushing prowess. However, he has a thick frame at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds and is stout against the run. In 2023, he was credited with 10 run stuffs (defined as a tackle in the run game made at or behind the line of scrimmage), which ranked 15th in the league. Even more impressive, he achieved that tally despite missing nearly a quarter of the season with a knee injury.
Additionally, Roach should provide a vibe stimulus in the locker room, as many around the team have already begun raving about Roach’s personality and energy.
He will also be a great rotational piece with fellow defensive tackle DJ Jones, as they combine to try and improve the team’s run-stuffing ability this season.
Jonah Elliss – Luck was on the Broncos’ side when they selected Elliss in the third round of the NFL Draft. The former Utah Ute led all of the FBS in sacks and was primed to be a top-50 selection before suffering a torn labrum in the middle of the season. Due to this, Elliss fell to the Broncos at pick 76, giving them much-needed depth at edge.
Despite being the eighth edge rusher taken, Elliss was undoubtedly one of the best pure pass rushers in the entire class. He possesses a vast arsenal of moves, showcasing the ability to bend, spin, and utilize his length to out-leverage tackles.
While it may take time for Elliss to achieve his full potential as a prospect, he has already impressed in camp and the preseason and will certainly contribute this year as a part of the rotation with Browning, Cooper, and Bonitto. His preseason debut was also tremendously promising.
Room for Growth
Despite the defense ranking toward the bottom in EPA/play allowed in 2023, there is reason to believe the returning players will continue to progress this season.
As mentioned earlier, the front seven is kind of like the athletes in a relay race. If even one player is a liability in their assignment, it makes it much more difficult for the rest of the unit to perform.
This was often the case for the Broncos in 2023, as some of the interior defensive lineman struggled to anchor in the run game and didn’t offer much push as pass rushers.
Fast-forward to 2024, and the Broncos’ retooled defensive line should result in much fewer missed assignments, making everyone’s job easier, and, hopefully, making everyone more productive.
This will not only help solidify the pass rush’s floor but also raise the ceilings of the Broncos defensive playmakers.
Adding Franklin-Myers and Roach will help fellow defensive linemen Zach Allen and DJ Jones grow as players. They are now surrounded by more improved depth who require much more attention from opposing offenses, leading to more one-on-one opportunities for them to rush the passer.
Allen specifically, who is just 26 years old, has the potential to become a star for the Broncos. He had a breakout performance last season with 5 sacks, 44 pressures (fourth most in the NFL), and 14 total run stuffs.
For an idea of just how meaningful those additions can be, look at how impactful Jones was early in his Denver tenure, when he was surrounded by Dre’Mont Jones and healthy versions of Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory, and compare that to the version of Jones that Denver got once those three were out the door.
In addition to the defensive line, the Broncos’ edge rushers should benefit greatly from the team’s offseason additions. With the interior being less of a detriment, Baron Browning, Jonathan Cooper, and Nik Bonitto will face fewer double teams and should be more successful in setting the edge against the run.
Keeping the offense behind the sticks on early downs will also help create additional pass-rushing opportunities on later downs, further feeding the productivity feedback loop.
Much like Allen, both Browning and Bonitto have star potential. Both are still just 25 and 24 years old, have incredible athleticism for the position, and combined for 12.5 sacks in 2023.
There is plenty of reason to believe they will take another step forward this upcoming season, especially with Browning entering a contract year. Combining Browning and Bonitto with the high-floor skillset of Cooper and the pass-rush upside of Elliss provides the Broncos with one of the deepest and most intriguing edge rooms in the entire league, plus it possesses the upside to become elite with a few lucky breaks.
Lastly, the defense as a whole is entering Year 2 under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Not only will the added continuity be a huge advantage this season, as they are already familiar with the verbiage, but VJ will no longer attempt to merge Fangio-style principles into his scheme like he did last year, which was a major factor in the early defensive disasters.
This will be a much more aggressive version of the Denver Broncos defense, which will give players such as Alex Singleton, Jonas Griffith, Ja’Quan McMillian, and Brandon Jones plenty of opportunities to contribute as blitzers, and considering the additions to the front, those blitzes should be much more effective in 2024.
