The last time a Denver Broncos player had ten sacks was back in 2018. Can they break this bad streak in 2024? Yes, 2018. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb were the previous two guys to do it for Denver, and they are now on different clubs.
Miller led the team with 14.5 sacks, while Chubb had 12 himself. Since then, the Broncos have been unable to match this high-end productivity, which is becoming a major issue. Since the Miller-Chubb deal, the club has struggled to locate that “alpha dog” off the edge.
The Broncos’ top pass rushers are currently Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, both of whom flirted with 10 sacks in 2023. Their best interior pass rusher is Zach Allen, and the trade for John Franklin-Myers gives Denver four serviceable pass-rush threats on the defensive front.
To a lesser extent, players such as Baron Browning and youngster Jonah Elliss could have an impact on the Denver Broncos’ sack totals in 2024. Right now, the two players I could see reaching 10-sacks in 2024 are Nik Bonitto, the Broncos’ top EDGE rusher, and Zach Allen, a very excellent defensive end.
Both athletes are still in their mid-twenties and should be in the prime of their careers. In 2023, Allen led the Denver Broncos with five sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 24 quarterback hits. Bonitto recorded eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits.
In total, this combo recorded 13 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 44 quarterback hits. These two players were definitely able to get into the backfield for the Denver Broncos, and as long as the defence does not have another historically terrible start as in 2023, the pass rush should be adequate.
With more defensive personnel, the unit may finish closer to the middle of the pack, which would be a good sight after how poor the team was for half of the season.
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