The Broncos need to add edge rusher Melvin Ingram to the mix

On paper, the Broncos have one of the NFL’s best edge-rushing duos in Randy Gregory and Bradley Chubb. In a stacked AFC West, bullying the opposing quarterback will be crucial to the Broncos 2022 season.

Gregory and Chubb, when healthy, can make games a nightmare for quarterbacks. The problem is, Gregory and Chubb have both missed a lot of football games.

Given their recent injury history, Gregory and Chubb don’t exactly inspire confidence that both will play 17 games in 2022. Chubb’s injury history over the last three seasons is well documented, and Gregory missed games last season due to injury and is coming off shoulder surgery.

The Broncos could have a problem should either player miss significant time next season.

From 2018-21, the Broncos went into each season with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb as their starting edge rushers. On paper, it was one of the best combos in the NFL. In the end, we only saw them play together for one full season in 2018, three games in 2019 and one game in 2021. In fact, Malik Reed started more games than Chubb and Miller from 2019-21.

That’s why the Broncos need to sign an insurance policy at pass rusher. That person is Melvin Ingram.

Ingram visited the Dolphins this week, but has yet to sign a deal. The Broncos should pounce on the opportunity. Ingram is on the downside of his career, but still would be a viable option should Gregory or Chubb miss any games.

He was traded mid-season in 2021 from the Steelers to the Chiefs. Ingram’s presence energized the Chiefs defense and his arrival was credited with the Chiefs’ defensive turnaround in the second half of the season. Ingram was able to take the pressure off Chris Jones and the rest of the Chiefs pass rush.

Ingram might not be the elite player he was earlier in his career, but he’s proven that he can play well on an elite team.

Third-wave veteran free-agent signings benefitted the Broncos in the last decade. Keith Brooking was brought in 2012 and played well at middle linebacker. Shaun Phillips was added as a pass rusher during draft weekend in 2013. Phillips’ role was significant as Elvis Dumervil departed, and Von Miller missed most of the season due to injuries and suspension.

Depth on the edge was one of the reasons the Broncos won Super Bowl 50. DeMarcus Ware missed time with injuries but having Shaq Barrett and Shane Ray as backups allowed the Broncos to not miss a beat.

Malik Reed signed his free agent tender this past week and will return to the Broncos. With all due respect to Reed, the Broncos pursuit of Gregory showed they don’t view him as a starter. With the stacked AFC West, the Broncos need a starting caliber talent to step in should Gregory or Chubb get injured.

Ingram can get to the quarterback in one on ones and take on double teams to free up whoever is opposite of him. Even later in his career, Ingram has a reputation and his presence on the field will command attention.

Ingram has also struggled with injuries in recent years, but in Denver, he would not be taking on the demand of previous seasons. He would be rotational and fill in as a starter if called upon.

Signing Ingram would be low risk. He would have to come on a team-friendly deal loaded with incentives. If Malik Reed takes the next step and the Broncos feel comfortable with his progress, they could move on from Ingram or have an even stronger rotation.

The Broncos could look to go pass rusher in the draft, as Cecil Lammey pointed out on DenverFan.com this week. A young player is enticing, but it’s far from a guarantee. With Ingram, the Broncos will have a proven player.

Randy Gregory is a big free-agent signing, but he only started 11 games in 2021. Bradley Chubb started less with seven. Combined, the Broncos current starting pass rushers barely started a full season.

It would be naive to think the Broncos won’t have to play without one or both for a stretch of 2022. That should make George Paton and Nathaniel Hackett nervous enough to sign Melvin Ingram.

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