Bradley Chubb could be the NFL Comeback Player of the Year

The Denver Broncos have a serious NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidate in Bradley Chubb.

When it comes to dark-horse candidates in the NFL for the 2020 season, no team has garnered more buzz than the Denver Broncos. They appear to have their quarterback of the future in Drew Lock, have a loaded supporting cast on offense that could potentially rival the Kansas City Chiefs, and boast an always stout defensive squad.

When it comes to the latter, the Broncos will receive a huge boost in the form of the returning Bradley Chubb, who’s an obvious candidate for the 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Chubb returning to Mile High on a mission

Back in 2018, the Broncos were stunned to see North Carolina State edge rusher Bradley Chubb drop to them with the No. 5 overall pick. Pairing Chubb with Von Miller? Sign John Elway up! In Chubb’s rookie campaign, he tallied 60 combined tackles, 21 quarterback hits, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

The belief entering his sophomore year was that he’d blow those numbers out of the water. Unfortunately, that goal reached its end in Week 4 of the 2019 season, as Chubb partially tore his ACL against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That ended his campaign.

Luckily for Chubb, he’s entering the 2020 season in a more ideal situation. This offseason, the Broncos made the savvy decision to acquire defensive tackle Jurrell Casey in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Casey is a five-time Pro Bowler who will help create pressure off the edge alongside Chubb and Miller, which certainly means there will be an increase in pass rush production.

Last season, Casey forced 21 quarterback pressures through 14 games, per Pro Football Reference. That is more than what Adam Gotsis (one) and DeMarcus Walker (six) had combined with the Broncos in 2019. That’s a huge improvement for Denver’s front seven that will only benefit Chubb once he’s rushing past offensive linemen to bring the opposing quarterback to the ground.

Make no mistake about it, Chubb is going to be on a mission once the 2020 season starts. He’s coming off a serious knee injury, failed to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, and has yet to make the Pro Bowl.

Chubb will use all of that motivation at the expense of the opposition, and if he accomplishes that, he’ll have a great chance to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award.