Broncos Player Profile: Bradley Chubb #55 | Edge Rusher
Ever since the Denver Broncos decided to pass on drafting a quarterback to take Bradley Chubb in the top-5, there have been cries of it being a mistake. The injury issues Chubb has dealt with over the first few years of his career have done nothing to quell those concerns.
Chubb now enters his fifth year, with only one full season under his belt. In addition, this is a contract year, which puts even more pressure on him. The Broncos have made several other moves at the edge rusher position, which could spell bad news for Chubb.
Whatever happens with the Broncos, if he wants a big contract anywhere, Chubb will need to stay on the field and put together a great season. So after playing a total of 25 games in the last three years, what are the expectations for Chubb entering the 2022 season?
Let's dive into his resume.
Biography
Chubb was born and raised in Georgia. He just turned 26, so he is still relatively young for an edge rusher.
On his 17th birthday, he committed to North Carolina State over several other schools.
College Career
Chubb's first year in college was in 2014, and he saw the field for just 17 total snaps on defense. However, after that, he was a regular on the field and consistently showed what he was capable of.
For his second year, Chubb saw the field for 648 snaps on defense, with 301 as a pass rusher and 291 as a run defender. His run defense was strong and consistently stood out each year.
Chubb was a capable edge-setter, and he improved each year. His Pro Football Focus run-defense grade was 68.0 in 2015, then improved to 78.1 in 2016, and then 87.7 in 2017, his final year.
As for his pass rush, Chubb picked up 35 pressures with nine sacks in 2015. That equals a pressure every 8.6 pass-rush snaps and a sack every 33.4 pass-rush snaps. An effective rate, and he kept up similar production over his final two years.
In 2016, Chubb played 680 snaps on defense with 376 as a pass rusher. He picked up 53 total pressures and nine sacks again — a pressure every 7.1 snaps, with a sack every 41.8 snaps. So it was a drop in sack rate, but his pressure rate improved.
Then in his final year, with 381 pass-rush snaps on 716 total snaps on defense, Chubb picked up 10 sacks with 59 total pressures. He entered the NFL after a season where he averaged a pressure every 6.5 snaps and a sack every 38.1.
For his whole collegiate career, Chubb averaged a pressure every 7.2 snaps and a sack every 37.9.
Draft
Chubb was a highly rated draft prospect and was widely viewed as a top-10 pick entering the draft process. As a result, he was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where he tested well, including in the 40-yard dash.
After the Combine, Chubb's stock rose, and almost every analyst had projected him going somewhere between the first and sixth overall picks. The question came down to the class' four quarterbacks and where they would go.
Many expected Chubb to be Cleveland's pick at fourth overall, and the Broncos even had a trade down ready to go depending on how the board fell. However, two of the players the Broncos liked were gone in the first two picks.
So, with the Browns on the clock at pick No. 4, the Broncos held their breath as Chubb was reportedly the final player they were looking at with the fifth overall pick.
The Browns went with cornerback Denzel Ward, leaving the Broncos to make Chubb the fifth overall pick in the draft.
Professional Career
Chubb had a great rookie year, showing his prowess as a run defender and potential as a pass rusher. According to PFF, who factors split sacks as a full sack, he picked up 57 total pressures with 13 sacks. Tackling was an issue as he missed 11 tackles, but his play was great for a rookie.
Hopes and expectations were high entering Chubb's second year, especially with a coaching change. Denver hired defensive guru Vic Fangio as head coach, who had an excellent track record with defensive performance and edge rusher productivity.
However, the first three games were rough as Denver struggled to sack the quarterback. Chubb got four total pressures over those three games, and his run defense was sub-par. The Broncos failed to notch their first sack of the season until Week 4, an inauspicious start to the Fangio era.
Things started to turn around in the fourth game before Chubb went down with a season-ending ACL injury. He picked up five pressures and one sack in that game, but his season was over before it started.
For the 2020 campaign, Chubb bounced back to play in the first 14 games before an injury took him out of the final two. His run defense was once again sub-par, which was a strong area for him in college and as a rookie. There was starting to be some concern about his play as a run defender.
As for getting after the quarterback, Chubb was tasked with leading the team as Von Miller was out with an injury for the season. Chubb picked up 57 total pressures, with eight sacks, according to PFF, earning a Pro Bowl selection.
In games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins that season, Chubb completely took over the game. Once again, expectations were high with his production as a pass-rusher, and it seemed possible he'd return to form as a run defender.
However, bone spurs caused an issue for Chubb during the offseason and training camp. It led to him missing a lot of time in 2021.
Chubb did see the field for 19 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, but he couldn't hold up. As a result, he found himself sidelined on injured reserve until Week 12. However, he did pick up one pressure against the Jaguars.
Chubb went on to start the Week 12 matchup and beyond, with the exception of Week 17. He was fine as a run defender but picked up 10 total pressures, and the Broncos' defense as a whole struggled to get after the quarterback.
Now there is another new coaching staff and a philosophical difference on defense in getting after the quarterback, which could help Chubb.
2022 Outlook
Denver brought in plenty of help to try and get after the quarterback with free-agent Randy Gregory and second-round pick Nik Bonitto. New defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero believes in using more pass rushers to get after the quarterback when you can't get there with just four guys.
That philosophical shift should help Chubb. Denver signing defensive tackle D.J. Jones should also help Chubb on the edge as a run defender. The biggest question with Chubb isn't whether he can do it; the question is: can he stay on the field?
If Chubb is able to stay healthy and out there on the field, then expecting this to be the best year of his career is a fair projection. There is no doubt he is a talented player, and the personnel Denver has added should help him even more than in the 2020 season.
It's hard to say what happens with Chubb after this season, as it will depend on staying on the field and getting good production. In a contract year, he has to go out there and show his stuff this season and can't be thinking about the 2023 season or beyond.
Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
