The hype is high around the Broncos’ linebackers this year, as they just may be the best starting unit in the NFL.
Bradley Chubb is back and healthy from last season’s ACL injury that limited him to four games. Von Miller is hungry to regain his elite pass-rushing form. And the emergence of inside linebacker Alexander Johnson — second on the Broncos with 93 tackles last year despite not playing until Week 5 — is also intriguing.
But fans shouldn’t forget about Todd Davis, who is motivated entering the final year of his contract after having his $6 million option picked up in the offseason. The 28-year-old, who has led the team in tackling three of the past four years, wants to continue his career emergence this fall.
“The bottom line, I want to be a top-tier linebacker in the league, make the Pro Bowl, things like that,” Davis said. “I haven’t made (the Pro Bowl) yet, but I will.”
Davis entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Saints in 2014, and was waived four times by New Orleans before the Broncos picked him up later that year. A reserve and special teams player on the 2015 Super Bowl team, he’s become more productive by the season in Denver, including posting a career-high 134 tackles to pace the Broncos last year despite missing the first two games with a calf injury.
While the roller-coaster beginning to his career taught Davis “to make the most of every day,” he’s applying a similar mindset to 2020 as he aims to re-assert the consistency he’s demonstrated since signing a three-year, $15 million deal prior to the 2018 season. He’s started 30 of 32 games in that time frame, and has 448 tackles and 21 tackles for loss over six seasons for the Broncos overall.
“I’m ready to make the plays I’m supposed to make, and some I’m not, and do my job consistently,” Davis said. “I’m definitely focused in my contract year.”
Like Miller, Davis put an emphasis on beefing up during the offseason, adding about five pounds of muscle. Davis checked into training camp at about 235 pounds, a weight he feels comfortable at against the run and dropping into coverage.
“I think this is the strongest I’ve been, the fastest I’ve been,” Davis said. “I’m healthy, my body feels good, my mind feels good. I’m ready to have a big year… And I’m excited to see what (the linebackers) can do. We can stand tall against the rush and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. It’s a deep, talented unit.”
Behind Davis and Johnson, returners Josey Jewell, Joe Jones and Josh Watson provide interior linebacking depth, as does rookie Justin Strnad (fifth-round pick from Wake Forest) and free agent acquisition Tre’ Crawford.
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August 17, 2020 at 12:40AM
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Broncos’ Todd Davis focused, confident entering contract year: “I want to be a top-tier linebacker in the league.” - The Denver Post
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