Broncos’ Draft Needs: Will Denver attempt to find Von Miller's successor in the draft?

There’s no position the Denver Broncos have more invested in than outside linebacker, currently and over the past half decade.

Even in 2015 when the Broncos had two Hall-of-Fame pass rushers in Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, Denver used their first-round pick on Shane Ray.

But, of course, now there is a new regime in town building the Broncos’ roster. Will George Paton take a similar approach by using high picks on outside linebackers much like John Elway did?

Special thanks to Andre Simone for providing draft input.

Current players on the roster

Starters: Bradley Chubb, Von Miller

Depth: Malik Reed, Derrek Tuszka

Level of need entering the draft: Minimal for 2021…

Strength of position in draft: Dripping with upside

Round(s) targeted: As early as Day 2

Top players in the draft: Kwity Paye (Michigan), Azeez Ojulari (Georgia), Jaelan Phillips (Miami, Fl.)

Over the past decade, Elway’s drafted two players in the top 10. Both were outside linebackers — Miller in 2011 and Bradley Chubb in 2018. Elway also invested a first-round pick in Ray in 2015.

The similarities between Denver’s outside linebacking corps in 2015 and now are striking. Before the 2015 draft, the Broncos had 32-year-old DeMarcus Ware and prime Von Miller.

Entering the 2021 draft, Denver has 32-year-old Von Miller and what they hope to be prime Bradley Chubb on the roster. In 2015, Denver used a first-round pick to add to the group. Will Paton follow Elway’s path in 2021?

It’s unlikely, but not entirely impossible.

After picking up Miller’s contract option for the 2021 season, it would be a surprise to see Denver use a first round pick on a player to be a backup. However, what wouldn’t be surprising is to see Paton use a Day 2 pick to try and find Von’s replacement for after the 2021 season, especially since Miller is entering the final year of his contract.

Fortunately, the edge rusher class this year stacks up just right for the Broncos to do this. While the 2021 group isn’t stacked with top-10 talent, it is rich in talent on Day 2 specifically.

DNVR’s draft analyst Andre Simone described the class as “rich in high-upside talent that’ll be found in the second-half of round one or Day 2 with starter talent.” That’s music to Paton’s ears if he wants to find Miller’s successor in this draft.

The Broncos, however, don’t have to address the position in the draft thanks to Malik Reed. In 13 starts last year, Reed had a team-high eight sacks and is only 24 years old.

After Reed, there are major question marks as the only other outside linebacker on the roster is 2020 seventh-round pick Derrek Tuszka. Even if Denver believes in Tuszka’s development, expect Paton to draft an edge rusher on Day 3, if he doesn’t address it on Day 2.

It’s more likely any potential successor for Von Miller will come in the form of a Day 2 project rather than a top-10 pick.