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Denver Broncos viewed as perfect home for top linebacker Devin White

By Erik Lambert

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 22: Devin White #40 of the LSU Tigers returns a fumble as Teddy Veal #9 of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defends during the first half at Tiger Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 22: Devin White #40 of the LSU Tigers returns a fumble as Teddy Veal #9 of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defends during the first half at Tiger Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos seem to have put their biggest concern of the 2019 offseason to rest with their trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.

Granted, it’s not a permanent solution. Their best hope can be he has maybe 2-3 good years left in him under a system he’s used to that utilizes a run-first style with play action that can take advantage of his big arm. If nothing else, it frees up John Elway and new head coach Vic Fangio to place their priorities in the coming NFL draft at different positions.

One of the things that Fangio was hired for in the first place was fixing a defense that has lost a lot of its once dominant form. They still have a nice array of talent, but key pieces are missing along with a good scheme. Fangio will handle the second part. The other can be taken advantage of with their favorable draft position. It’s a matter of who they should pursue.

NFL Network expert and former scout Daniel Jeremiah has one name in mind that would be perfect for them.

"“LSU LB Devin White has the ability to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game and also has a good knack for blitzing, factors that would translate well in Vic Fangio’s first defense in Denver. The Broncos hold the 10th overall pick.”"

The best Vic Fangio defenses have great inside linebackers in common

Fangio has been a top defensive coordinator for almost three decades in the NFL. He knows what great defense is supposed to look like and he’s seen the formula on how to get it. One of the absolute vital factors, at least when it comes to his scheme is the inside linebacker position. Look back over his long career and you’re bound to find at least one and often two talented names there whenever he was fielding top 10 units.

  • Sam Mills in Carolina
  • Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco
  • Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan in Chicago

As things stand, the Broncos are nowhere even close to any of those units. That means Fangio has to be looking for options that fit the type he wants and there’s no question White fits it. His mixture of size, speed, athleticism, and instincts are everything a team can ask for in an inside linebacker. Putting that sort of talent under Fangio’s guidance would be amount to cheating from the Broncos perspective and add another playmaker to an already good front seven.

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