Broncos could look to a familiar face for an underrated signing that would kick off the 2026 offseason in a big way
Get it done, Sean Payton.
The Denver Broncos were so close to the Super Bowl. Had quarterback Bo Nix played against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, things might’ve gone differently.
Now, the focus has moved to the offseason, with several team needs clearly established. While he may not fit a direct roster need, the team could look to a familiar face to help bolster the defense. That man is none other than star pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
The Broncos drafted Chubb in the 2018 NFL draft, a class that also included star quarterback Josh Allen — a decision that divided the fan base at the time. Chubb spent five seasons with the Broncos, starting in 49 games and recording one interception, five passes defended, six forced fumbles, and 26 sacks. He had a very successful career, to say the least.
In a blockbuster move, the Dolphins sent a first-round pick in 2022 to the Broncos in exchange for Chubb, and the Dolphins immediately signed him to a massive contract extension.
With new leadership in town, Chubb was a cap casualty and was released from the Dolphins.
Chubb spent three and a half years with the Dolphins while missing the entire 2024 campaign with a torn ACL. He had 22 sacks, nine forced fumbles, and 22 sacks in 41 games in Miami.
Sean Payton should bring Bradley Chubb home on a one-year deal
For Denver, I’m just hoping that head coach Sean Payton and company put out a flier for the talented pass rusher. While he’s a shell of the player he was, he still managed over eight sacks in 2025 and could be a real asset. We’re just asking for a one-year prove-it type deal to join the Broncos.
Miami Dolphins beat writer Kyle Crabbs had a lot to say about Chubb as a leader and as a player.
“I really respect the way that Bradley Chubb pulled himself back from the brink after a devastating 2023 knee injury. He managed to play as a functional pass rusher and logged strong sack numbers after missing all of 2024. But he was, undoubtedly, not showing the same kind of explosiveness that made him an early first-round draft choice back in 2018. And Chubb, who turns 30 years old this summer, is unlikely to get any more juice as he enters the later stages of his career.
“Chubb is an outstanding leader. He’s got good toughness and can still collapse the pocket off the edge. But the burst and bend aren’t what they were, and if you’re hoping for a needle-moving player, you may be barking up the wrong tree. He’d be best served transitioning into a rotational role to play on early downs before potentially ceding to on long & late downs to a more twitchy, explosive rush threat.” — Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports Miami.
Crabbs’ assessment is fair. Chubb isn’t the same explosive force that once terrorized quarterbacks in orange and blue. The burst might be diminished, and the bend might not be what it was in 2018. But what he still brings, leadership, toughness, and a proven ability to collapse the pocket, is something Denver could absolutely use in a complementary role.
This wouldn’t be about turning back the clock. It would be about adding depth, experience, and a familiar presence to a defense that’s trying to take the next step.
A one-year, prove-it deal makes too much sense not to explore. At worst, you get a rotational veteran who knows the building and culture well. At best, you get one more productive chapter in a story that started in Denver, and maybe a key piece that helps push this team from “almost” to playing in February.
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This would be exactly what the doctor ordered.
