The Lead
In 2019, Courtland Sutton became the first member of the Broncos' 2018 draft class to make a Pro Bowl. This year, Denver's first-round pick from that class could be next in line.
That’s what NFL.com’s Marc Sessler believes; in predicting a first-time Pro Bowler for each team in the AFC, he chose Bradley Chubb. The third-year linebacker missed much of his second season after tearing his ACL in a Week 4 game against the Jaguars, but many analysts and spectators see him returning to form in 2020.
"Peering beyond the wreckage of last year's injury-ravaged sophomore outing, Chubb's 12 sacks in 2018 set a franchise mark for rookies," Sessler wrote. "Beyond the takedown tally, his rookie-leading 58 total pressures told the story of a chaos-spinning nuisance off the edge who — when healthy — forms the AFC's most dangerous pass-rushing duo with all-world talent Von Miller."
A couple of other Broncos could be in line for their first Pro Bowls, too. In 2019, Justin Simmons was a second-team All-Pro selection yet missed out on Pro Bowl honors, and the other half of Denver's defensive backfield, Kareem Jackson, was a Pro Bowl alternate.
If you combine that talent with the 13 total Pro Bowls between Von Miller and Jurrell Casey, the Broncos should have a good chance to add to their Pro Bowl count.
Below the Fold
As you may have seen on this site already, ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell is big on the Broncos' collection of offensive weapons following a busy offseason for John Elway & Co. In the larger context of the entire NFL, he placed the group 14th, up from their 2019 ranking of 31. "After using the past two drafts to rebuild their weaponry, the Broncos have one of the more exciting young cores in the league," Barnwell wrote.
After organizing the Broncos' player-led protest for racial justice in June, Jackson penned a powerful column for The Players’ Tribune about the movement and his own experiences with racism. "That march we held in Denver truly opened my eyes to the massive potential that exists to spur real change," Jackson wrote. "And I've been inspired by so many other protests and marches that have taken place over the past few weeks."
