ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Quarterbacks, beware.
Another elite pass rusher is headed to Denver.
With the fifth-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected NC State's Bradley Chubb and provided what should be an immediate boost to a pass rush that underachieved in 2017.
Just two years removed from a dominant performance during the team's Super Bowl 50 run, the Broncos' pass rush finished 22nd in total sacks in 2017 with just 33 quarterback takedowns. Denver finished first in the league with 52 sacks during that 2015 championship season.
Chubb, who was the second defensive player off the board, should help correct that problem.
The 2017 ACC Defensive Player of the Year — who also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation's best defensive player — totaled 10 sacks in each of his final two seasons with the Wolfpack.
He also added more than 20 tackles for loss during those campaigns, including a 23-TFL output as a senior. No player in ACC history has totaled more career tackles for loss (54) than Chubb.
That collegiate production has already earned Chubb at least one fan inside UCHealth Training Center.
"He's Khalil Mack and Von Miller put together," said Von Miller a week before the NFL Draft. "He is a great player. I would love to have him on my team. You don't come across guys like that often. Having the No. 5 pick in the draft, I hope we don't have a high pick like that for a while.
"If we could steal a player like that, I'm all for it."
The Broncos did just that on Thursday night.
And in the process, John Elway and Co. added a top talent who could make an instant impact.
