Kansas City Chiefs: Four positively bold predictions for AFC West

Denver Broncos: Bradley Chubb Records 16 Sacks

Two years ago, the Denver Broncos used the No. 5 overall draft pick on EDGE Bradley Chubb out of North Carolina State.

It immediately paid dividends as Chubb appeared in and started all 16 games in 2018, finishing with 12 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, and 60 combined tackles. Clearly, the Broncos had found a rusher to line up opposite Von Miller, and the duo would make lives miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

Last season, though, things went awry.

In the team’s fourth game of the season, Chubb went down for the year with a torn ACL. He finished with a single sack to go along 21 total tackles and six quarterback hits.

Expect Chubb to be better than ever in 2020 as he returns from the injury. He’s going to make a very strong case for Comeback Player of the Year as he chases the league’s sack title. In fact, I expect him to average one sack per game this upcoming season. Last year, 16 sacks would’ve been good enough for fourth in the league.

Chubb’s return to the field–and to form–would be a huge boost for the Broncos, a team that loaded up with offensive players to help the progression of quarterback Drew Lock, who took over as starter during his rookie year and begins his second season at the team’s clear no. 1.

But Denver’s defense must also improve, and there’s no better candidate to make that happen than Chubb.