The Denver Broncos last year had a very disappointing season. They finished with a 6-10 overall record, sitting third overall in the AFC West Division. Their offense was awful, but their defense also took a step back. They allowed 21.8 points per game, which ranked 13th overall in the NFL.
Mainly they had trouble stopping the run. Their pass rush was excellent. Their front seven ranked 12th in the entire league, per Pro-Football-Reference. Von Miller on the season had 48 tackles, with 14 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He's one of the most dynamic defensive ends in the NFL.
As far as rushing defense goes, they allowed 119.6 rushing yards per game. This ranked 22nd in the league, putting them in the lower tier of teams. Their lack of depth at the nose tackle allowed teams to run straight down the middle and expose their blitzing.
For the Broncos to take the next step on defense, they need to add one more dynamic player — somebody who can fix their rush-stopping problems. Per Over the Cap, the team has $37.5 million in space. This allows them to go out in the free agent market and fix the exact fit they need — somebody who can plug the gaps and put pressure at the point of attack.
Ndamukong Suh fits this bill. For nearly a decade, Suh has been one of the best run-stopping defensive linemen in the NFL. His size and strength let him plow through offensive guards, swallowing up running backs at the first level.
This past season for the Los Angeles Rams Suh was extremely vital to their success. Their run to the Super Bowl would have been negated if not for his ability to stop the run. During the regular season, he had 4.5 sacks, along with 49 tackles, four pass deflections, and four tackles for a loss.
His ability to plug gaps and even put pressure on the quarterback is known across the league. He has never had high sack numbers, getting more than 10 only once. He has had 10 or more tackles for a loss in five seasons throughout his career. Even so, he still is at the center of the pressure, allowing quicker defensive ends and linebackers to reach the quarterback first.
Pro-Football Focus gave him an 82.6 ranking last season. This put him among the top 20 defensive tackles. His impact allowed Aaron Donald to collect 20.5 sacks. Without Suh, Donald had only 11 sacks the year prior.
Suh would be the perfect addition to the Broncos. His impact inside would allow Miller to flourish. Just as Suh's presence on the Rams allowed Donald to win the defensive player of the year award, Miller's numbers could very well swell among the league's best.
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