The Lead
Last year, the Broncos saw a pair of their players become first-time Pro Bowlers, as Justin Simmons and Bradley Chubb.
For Chubb, it was an emotional benchmark in his career after a torn ACL ended his second season after just four games. With 7.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits in just 14 games, Chubb returned to form and proved he was the same caliber of player that set the Broncos' franchise rookie record for sacks.
For Simmons, it was just the next step in the continued climb into the league's top ranks as a top safety. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2017, Simmons has steadily added to his yearly interception totals and become perhaps the best all-around safety. In 2019, he came close to a Pro Bowl nod, but instead took home second-team All-Pro honors before getting his first all-star game selection a year later.
Now, with the 2021 season nearly upon us, which Bronco could be the next Pro Bowl newbie?
Picking one player from each team for that honor, NFL.com’s Marc Sessler says to keep an eye on Broncos tackle Garett Bolles.
"Denver's left tackle was a bona fide Pro Bowl snub after finishing as PFF's third-best tackle," Sessler wrote. "The 2017 first-rounder made the leap in his fourth season as a count-on-me run blocker and protector of the quarterback."
Perhaps Bolles could follow in Simmons' footsteps, building on his second-team All-Pro season with a Pro Bowl campaign in the ensuing season.
Below the Fold
Drew Lock knows how to handle the pressure on the field, and it appears he knows how to handle pressure on the pavement, too. On Wednesday, as Lock drove through Kansas on Interstate 70, a car driving in the opposite direction lost a tire, which caromed over the median into his path, the Kansas Highway Patrol told KDVR. Lock managed to avoid that potential disaster, but an errant lug nut flew into his windshield, coming just short of breaking through the glass.
"He did what we want," KHP trooper Ben Gardner said. "He was alert, and he was quick to react and start taking the actions to keep himself and others safe. Braking, slowing, moving away from, to the right, all the things that are good to keep himself safe on the roadway, as well as probably on the field."
