Denver Broncos Sign Much Needed Veteran LB Keith Brooking
The Denver Broncos signed veteran LB Keith Brooking today to help boost their linebacking corps. Brooking, who is going into his 15th NFL season, started with the Atlanta Falcons in 1998 when the Falcons made him the 12th overall pick. He played 11 seasons with the Falcons and the last 3 seasons he spent with the Dallas Cowboys. He has played in all 16 games in the last 11 seasons, but last season he lost his starting spot to fellow LB Sean Lee. Brooking is a 5-time Pro Bowler, but is now 36 years old.
The Broncos are smart to bring a veteran in to help its linebacking corps. Brooking is an inside linebacker and could bring competition to the MLB spot and teammate Joe Mays. The Broncos were counting on 2nd year LB Nate Irving to compete and maybe take over at MLB, but that hasn’t worked out yet and looks like Irving will need another year to be groomed. Mays is serviceable, but his ceiling is not as high as the Broncos need at the MLB position. Brooking may not start, but I could see him playing often to give Mays and other LBs breaks.
The main reason this is a good move is because he will teach a young group of LBs that consist of 2nd year OLB Von Miller, 6th year pro and 2nd year starter MLB Mays, and 3rd year OLB Wesley Woodyard who will be starting in the spot that suspended DJ Williams is leaving open. The only other potential starters are 2nd year Irving and rookie LB Danny Trevathan.
With as young of a group that the Broncos have and the trouble they have been having with Williams’ off-the-field issues, this move to add a veteran presence to the Broncos’ defense was a must and will prove to benefit the team.
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