LB Corey Nelson shares what unique traits he brings to the Broncos' defense

Following final roster cut-downs over the weekend, the Denver Broncos had the option to bring back two former linebackers. Brandon Marshall had been cut by the Raiders, while Corey Nelson — a 2014 draft pick of the Broncos' — was sent packing by Tampa Bay.

You don't often see GM John Elway go back to the well to rekindle relationships with former players but Nelson was intriguing to him. Marshall has dealt with myriad injury issues over the years, which is what ultimately soured his tenure in Denver and caused the Broncos to release him earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Nelson has managed to stave off the vagaries of the injury bug. Health concerns likely played a big factor in Denver choosing to re-sign Nelson over Marshall. But there were other allures to Nelson, which we'll get to shortly.

So, now that's he's back in Denver, what exactly does Corey Nelson offer the team? There's a new defense being run now, the brainchild of head coach Vic Fangio. In his first day back as a Bronco, Nelson revealed what attributes of his can best help this team.

“Just whatever I can," Nelson said on Monday. "If it’s being able to cover a man, being able to do well in the zone or bring leadership, both on special teams and defense, that’s what I’m here for. And that’s what I feel I’m going to bring to the table.”

Despite playing in Denver from 2014-17, the majority of Nelson's contributions came on special teams, though he did make an impact in 2016, finishing with a career-high 61 tackles (40 solo) in six starts with five pass-deflections. However, what really went unsung that year was how he distinguished himself as one of the NFL's elite coverage linebackers.

In 2016, which I remind you was the one pro year he saw the real time on defense, not just special teams, Nelson allowed a passer rating of 74.6 when opposing QBs targeted him in coverage, which was the second-best LB mark in the league per Pro Football Focus. It's a big reason the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.6 million.

It never quite came together for Nelson in Philly, which saw the Eagles release him in late August just months after he signed and before the regular season. He caught on with Atlanta for a month of the regular season before he was cut again and then he spent the rest of 2018 on the street. Next stop, Tampa Bay but that only lasted eight months.

It's unclear why Nelson has struggled to catch on since he left the Broncos but my guess is that he regrets leaving. The Broncos wanted him to stay but he thought the grass looked greener on the other side, after helping the team that drafted him win a Super Bowl in 2015.

“It’s exciting. It’s exciting coming back to see of the familiar faces," Nelson said with regard to returning to Denver. "It’s exciting and a bit overwhelming to come back to something that’s all so familiar but different at the same time.”

One of the big draws for Nelson was being reunited with his position coach, Reggie Herring. Herring arrived in 2015, Nelson's second year, and helped Wade Phillips elevate the Broncos' defense to a No. 1 finish and all-time, World-Champion status.

“It’s really nice being with Reggie, [having been] here with him for three years and winning the Super Bowl with him," Nelson said. "Great chemistry, a guy that knows me and I know him, we know each other’s work ethic, so it’s exciting to see a familiar face that’s coaching you.”

For his part, Coach Fangio is optimistic that with his veteran experience and time with the team, Nelson can fit in and acclimate quickly to the new Broncos' defense.

“Hopefully he fits in smoothly and quickly," Fangio said on Monday. "I didn’t watch him all the time out there, but I will when I watch the tape. He seemed to pick things up quickly and he’s another guy that been in a camp so he’s football-ready. He’s just got to become Bronco-ready soon.”

Fangio's scheme prioritizes linebackers who can cover. And that's where Corey Nelson might be able to add an element to this Broncos' defense in sub-packages that even starters Todd Davis and Josey Jewell cannot.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.