Josey Jewell Offers Blunt Impression of Hyped Broncos' Rookie LB
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In the spring of 2022, the Denver Broncos took a big chance by re-signing inside linebacker Josey Jewell to a second contract. It was a two-year deal worth $11 million, and it came on the heels of Jewell missing all but two games the season prior.
There's no luck worse for a player than suffering a season-ending injury in a contract year. But by the time Jewell had suffered that particular misfortune in 2021, he'd already earned the trust and admiration of new Broncos' GM George Paton.
Jewell didn't languish on the free-agent market either. Paton made short work of re-upping with the team's 2018 fourth-round pick when the free-agent period opened in March of 2022.
Jewell repaid Paton's faith in him by producing a career year, totaling 128 tackles (70 solo), seven tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. While his inside linebacking partner Alex Singleton decimated Jewell's tackling numbers with (163 combined/101 solo), the former Iowa linebacker showcased a much more versatile skill set, producing for the Broncos' defense in a variety of ways.
The Broncos re-signed Singleton this offseason to a lucrative three-year deal, which gives Jewell a linebacking partner he knows well as he himself enters a contract year. If Jewell is able to fend off the injury bug like he did last year, there's little doubt that he'll once again be productive, which could lead to Paton offering an in-season extension if all the dominoes fall favorably.
However, Paton and the Broncos hedged on Jewell's outlook by drafting Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders in the third round this year. Sanders was selected at pick No. 67, which makes him the Broncos' highest-drafted inside linebacker since D.J. Williams in 2004.
Just because Sanders could be a threat to Jewell's standing with the Broncos doesn't mean he's going to deprive the rookie of his leadership and mentoring. Jewell shared his initial observations of Sanders on Thursday after the Broncos' final OTA practice, complimenting him in no small measure.
“He’s got a unique set of skills," Jewell said of Sanders. "He’s a guy that can also go on the outside. I saw some college stuff that he was an OLB back in the day, so good versatility for him. A pretty smart guy and very quiet so far, so still trying to get to know him, but it’s been fun for the first couple weeks of OTAs to get to know these younger guys like Seth Benson and Drew. Great dudes so far, so I love the room.”
Benson, like Jewell, played his college ball at Iowa, and although he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, with 95 tackles, 4.5 for loss, a sack, and an interception, he didn't hear his name called on draft day. The Broncos signed Benson as a priority college free agent, and he joins an inside linebacker depth chart featuring a logjam of young, talented players trying to make the roster.
With incumbents like Jonas Griffith and Justin Strnad returning to compete this summer, rookies like Sanders and Benson won't have it easy finding a way to stand out. Let's face it, though: Benson's outlook can't even be compared to Sanders, since the latter has a draft pedigree (to say nothing of his prodigious skill set) that makes him a lock for the roster.
However it shakes out, there's no doubt that the Broncos have some really good depth at inside linebacker for the first time in many years. Even Jewell would agree.
“I think we’ve got a lot of great guys, whether it be Jonas, Drew, and Justin," Jewell said. "I think those guys are really good. And you never know what’ll happen with the other linebackers, too. They could possibly get in there depending on how this [mandatory mini]camp goes next week, and also camp in the fall. So we’ll see how it goes, but right now, there’s a good amount of depth back there with guys I would trust.”
Jewell is a leader and a coach on the field. At 28 years old, he's still got a couple of prime playing years left in the tank.
While Sanders' arrival is a bit of a threat, Jewell's role with the Broncos this year is set in stone, barring any vagaries from the injury bug. That's been the only real fly in the ointment for Jewell's NFL career — injuries.
Unfortunately, he's missed games in each of his five NFL seasons. Even last year, when he posted career-high numbers, Jewell missed four starts due to injury but still managed to produce at a very high level.
In 81 possible games since being drafted in 2018, Jewell has appeared in 62 with 43 starts. That's why the Broncos made sure to invest in the future by drafting Sanders.
However, as talented as Sanders is, there's no way to accurately project how quickly a player will develop. It could happen quickly for Sanders, if he's called into action early. Or it could take time.
However it shakes out, the Broncos have Jewell locked in for one more year, and Singleton under contract through the 2025 season. All Jewell needs is a little luck by way of the injury bug, and the rest will take care of itself, including his post-2023 contract status.
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