Ranking the 2021 AFC West LBs: Where do the Raiders rank

Jan 3, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders outside linebacker Cory Littleton (42) tackles Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders outside linebacker Cory Littleton (42) tackles Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 14, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed (59) in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed (59) in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Ranking the 2021 AFC West LBs: Where do the Raiders rank

3. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have almost been the exact opposite of the Kansas City Chiefs ever since Peyton Manning and their defense led them to a Super Bowl 50 win over the Carolina Panther Panthers, and it’s been a struggle to find a quarterback since then.  Von Miller is getting up there in age and isn’t technically a linebacker, so he doesn’t affect their rankings here.

The same thing goes for Bradley Chubb, who does stand up but is pretty much mostly just a pass rusher and not a full-time linebacker.

Their best linebacker might just be Malik Reed, who almost accumulated more sacks this season with eight, than the last two Bradley Chubb seasons, where he’s had eight and a half sacks combined in 2019 and 2020.  The strength of their defense has been the defensive line and secondary, and their linebacker depth shows.

The other starting linebackers for the Broncos are Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson, not really the elite of the elite, but if they keep investing in the other two levels of their defense. If they continue to play well they might be a little worrisome in the AFC West if they finally find their quarterback.