Broncos Should Pursue Greg Hardy with Malik Jackson Gone

With Malik Jackson having bolted via free agency, Broncos general manager John Elway should sign Greg Hardy as a replacement. Is such a troubled player worth it?

It’s no secret that the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos are off to a fairly rocky start to the 2016-2017 season.

In roughly the past week, the team has seen standout players in defensive lineman Malik Jackson, linebacker Danny Trevathan, and presumed franchise quarterback Brock Osweiler leave for greener pastures via free agency.

Of all the players mentioned, though, none held more value in Denver than Malik Jackson. In his fourth season with the Broncos, the versatile 26-year-old enjoyed a dominant breakout campaign, grading out as one of the best interior linemen in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

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No matter how good the defending champions defense still is, it’ll be difficult finding a player that’ll be able to replicate Jackson’s All-Pro level of production.

While Denver does possess solid depth on the defensive line, and there is talent to be had at the position in the draft, there’s one move that fearless general manager John Elway should take into long, thoughtful consideration.

That move: signing Greg Hardy.

The first thought that immediately rushes to the forefront of minds of Broncos fans, and people in general, everywhere when they hear the name Hardy is his ugly history of domestic violence. The incredibly disturbing images illustrating the damage he inflicted upon now ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder in 2014 (released back in November) are still admittedly difficult to process.

Nonetheless, Hardy returned to disruptive form in 2015 after sitting out nearly all of the 2014 season on the exempt list. He collected six sacks in 12 contests for the Dallas Cowboys and was one of the better linemen in the NFL, despite being suspended the first four games of the season.

As we’re now about a week into free agency, Hardy remains on the market and the Broncos have a hole that the troubled 27-year-old can thoroughly fill.

Regardless of what issues have taken place off of the field, no one can dispute the type of player Hardy has been when on it.

signing Hardy may not be the most popular choice in Denver, but it may be one of the only chances the Broncos have at adequately filling Jackson’s shoes.

He’s an elite, dynamic pass-rusher that consistently commands double-teams and was likely on his way to a third consecutive double-digit sack season in 2014 before the league sidelined him. When Ndamukong Suh was the consensus top defensive player in the NFL some years back, many believed Hardy wasn’t far behind.

In Denver, playing under defensive guru Wade Phillips and with a historically great defense surrounding him, Hardy could reach that level of play once again.

And being placed in a situation such as the Broncos really can’t be undervalued. Elway has created a no-nonsense, disciplined culture in the Mile High City. Every player is accountable to their coaches and to one another, something that shined through during the Broncos rollercoaster ride to Super Bowl 50.

In any case, signing Hardy may not be the most popular choice in Denver, but it may be one of the only chances the Broncos have at adequately replacing Malik Jackson’s production.

I’m sure most fans would agree that lining up Hardy next to the likes of Derek Wolfe, DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Shane Ray and Co. would be something to behold, perhaps even more so than if Jackson were instead in his place.

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