Broncos Pick ‘Em: Outside of Burrow and Stafford, what two players in the Super Bowl would you want in Denver?

For the second time in his career, Von Miller is playing in the Super Bowl. But for the first time in his career, it is not with the Denver Broncos.

While the Super Bowl 50 MVP has caught fire the past two months, he’s only one of the star-studded players in the NFL’s most prestigious game.

Outside of the two star quarterbacks, what other players would the Broncos benefit the most from having on their team from the Bengals and Rams? Does Von make the cut?

The DNVR Crew breaks it down in the Super Bowl edition of Broncos Pick ‘Em.

All odds below are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

What two non-QBs from the Super Bowl teams would you want on the Broncos?

Zac: Aaron Donald & Jalen Ramsey — I’m not going to lie, ex-Bronco Von Miller is up there. But misses the cut by just a few players due to his age and lack of production the past few seasons on a team that didn’t have an explosive offense.

While Von has had a fantastic end to the season, could you imagine Ramsey and Donald in Denver?

Jalen across from Pat Surtain would be shutdown city.

The best defensive lineman to ever play the game would, well, be the absolute monster the Broncos need along the front seven.

Denver would go from no Pro Bowlers this year to one of the best cornerbacks in the game—a three-time First-team All-Pro including each of the last two seasons—and the best defensive lineman in the NFL—along with a First-team All-Pro the last seven years.

Cooper Kupp, Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon are all worthy of consideration as well, but the upgrade the Broncos would receive at those positions from what they currently have wouldn’t be the same jump they would get with Donald and Ramsey.

Mase: Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson – It’s not just about today, but what could be to come in the future.

Let’s start with Chase. Yes, Cooper Kupp is the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. And wide receiver is one of the Broncos’ strongest positions. But Chase has just one season under his belt, and in that rookie campaign, had the most dynamic rookie season for any wide receiver since Randy Moss in 1998. Chase is a different type of receiver than Moss, but they arrive in the same place in terms of effectiveness. And all Moss did was become one of just two first-ballot Hall of Famers in the last 25 HoF classes.

The Broncos have good receivers. But Chase is special.

As for Hendrickson, the question is obvious: Why take him over other edge rushers in the game — specifically Von Miller? It’s all about what lies ahead. Miller is heading into his 12th season, a point at which seasons with at least 12 sacks have been rare; in the last 20 years, only Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs in 2014 had at least a dozen sacks in his 12th campaign or later.

Hendrickson did not become a starter until 2020, but in his two years of extensive work, has posted at least 13.5 sacks in each season and has averaged 15.0 sacks per 17 games played in that span. That is a level of season-long production that could be beyond Miller’s reach as he turns 33 years of age in March.

RK: Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp — I’m not sure how much justification Donald needs here, but how’s this: eight-time Pro Bowler, seven-time First-Team All-Pro, three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

We good?

Cool.

As for Kupp, I think he’s probably the most underrated player in the NFL. It’s crazy to me that he didn’t get more MVP buzz after putting together one of the greatest wide receiver seasons of all time but man, you give this guy to any quarterback and that guy is going to get better.

Kupp is almost always open when you need him most and almost always makes the play when the ball comes his way. On top of his elite route running he also has an elite understanding of coverages and weak spots in defense.

While the Broncos have plenty of wide receiver depth, they don’t have THAT guy.

Picks Picks Picks

Will Cooper Kupp (-200) or Ja’Marr Chase (+165) have more receiving yards?

Zac: Kupp. Easy.

Mase: Kupp.

RK: Kupp.

Will Cooper Kupp and Ja’Marr Chase combine for 15+ receptions and each have 80+ receiving yards (+150)?

Zac: Nope.

Mase: No.

RK: No.

Joe Burrow + Matthew Stafford passing touchdowns over/under 4.5 (+145)

Zac: Over.

Mase: Under.

RK: Over.

Will any player have at least 150 rushing or receiving yards (+175)?

Zac: No way.

Mase: No.

RK: Yes.

Jersey number of first touchdown scorer over/under 23.5

Zac: Under.

Mase: Under.

RK: Over.

Winning margin over/under 8.5

Zac: Over.

Mase: Over.

RK: Under.

Rams (-4) @ Bengals

Zac: Rams.

Mase: Los Angeles.

RK: Bengals.

Leaderboard

Last week

Mase: 2-0

Zac: 1-1

RK: 1-1

Overall

Zac: 126-142

RK: 125-143

Mase: 124-144