Bradley Chubb’s season does not look like it will end well, despite winning the first Pro Bowl award of his young career. The Denver Broncos third-year rush linebacker posted 7.5 sacks this season and was among the NFL leaders in QB pressure, but he missed Week 16 with an ankle injury and is “50-50” at the end of season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Fans are licking their feet with the prospect of a totally healthy Chubb, enjoying the momentum of their first Pro Bowl selection, joining their mentor Von Miller once again to chase the quarterbacks in 2021. Both are under contract, but Miller is in the final year of his contract and is coming out of a lost season with a large number of salary caps.
In what is likely to be the last press of the Chubb season, he was asked on Friday about the importance of the Broncos keeping Von Miller, as well as rehiring Shelby Harris – the last of whom is set to be an unrestricted free agent.
“Unfortunately, in the past two years, these injuries have taken us away as an organization,” said Chubb. “With us on the field, it’s going to be huge. With Shelby back on the line, getting this penetration and getting his hands on the balls – just this interruption, leaving the defenders frustrated is something that gets these guys out of their heads and those behind us they play well because of that. So it’s great to have these guys on the pitch this year. “
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Chubb is doing his best presentation to GM John Elway to move some money and find a way to get Harris paid. Once again, Miller is under contract, but as he enters his 32-year season, speculation is mounting that the Broncos will approach him about a pay cut.
Chubb doesn’t want to hear. It has everything to do with the Von / Chubb duo terrorizing the quarterbacks in 2021 with Harris pushing the inside pocket and hitting the balls on the scrimmage line.
“When you talk about these two guys, you’re talking about generational talents,” said Chubb. “Von proved that no one in this league can block him one by one, he can do whatever he wants in this league and see whoever he wants. He’s the prototype of the external linebacker, so I feel like with a guy like that, we can show what we can do. “
Fans had a glimpse of what the Von / Chubb duo could do in 2018. Miller posted 14.5 sacks while Chubb joined an elite list of players of all time with 12 or more sacks as a rookie. Ultimately, Chubb finished with 12 and was just 2.5 bags from breaking the all-time debutant record.
Harris only shared 1.5 bags that year, but he was a backup. It was the last resistance of the Vance Joseph regime with Joe Woods calling defensive plays.
The following year, Harris was named starter by newly hired Vic Fangio and got six sacks from the interior, which was a big advantage with Chubb in the injury reserve for three quarters of the season and Miller having a bit of a “fall” ‘year with eight bags.
It would be great to see this trio wreak havoc on the top seven of the Broncos in 2021. But the NFL is a business and such black-and-white considerations always turn to the end result.
Still, it is important to remember that both Chubb and Miller are under contract next year. Harris could be rehired and the Broncos could choose to stay in a waiting pattern with Miller and let him simply play the final year of his contract.
If 2021 is in fact Elway’s last position as a GM, he may well be rocking with his boys and the horses that helped put that shine on his resume as a football executive. Hopefully, Elway heard Chubb’s message loud and clear and kicks Miller’s can down the road a year.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.