Ahead of last month’s practice and preseason game against Dallas, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett and his offensive staff took a surface-level look at the Cowboys’ defense from last year.

They liked what they saw … and it had nothing to do with the current Cowboys

“It was funny, the whole time, we’re all looking at each other going, ‘Oh, we’re really happy that guy is on our team.’”

That Guy is new outside linebacker Randy Gregory, who joined the Broncos as a free agent in March after starting his career in Dallas.

And if That Guy can approach, match or even exceed the production of the player he is essentially replacing (Von Miller), Gregory will become The Guy to lead the Broncos’ pass rush along with Bradley Chubb.

The Broncos are betting big that Gregory, who played only 50 games in seven years because of suspensions and injuries, has put his disciplinary troubles behind him and can stay available. But there are multiple question marks surrounding the edge position besides Gregory.

Can Chubb, who missed almost all of 2019 and ’21, return to his double-digit sack form of ’18?

Can Baron Browning, who was moved from inside linebacker, be a quick study as a rusher and run defender?

And can Nik Bonitto, the team’s second-round pick this year, learn a vastly new role to help out as a backup?

In reality, those are the good kind of questions. It means the Broncos have the people to potentially deliver a pass-rush boost that can close games.

“You can never have enough rushers,” general manager George Paton has said on more than one occasion.

Prioritize rushers

The Broncos hired outside linebackers coach Bert Watts in January. He had no idea how much his group would be addressed over the next four months.

Soon after they signed Gregory to a five-year, $70 million contract, the Broncos moved Browning outside and drafted Bonitto. Those players joined Chubb and Jonathon Cooper.

Did Watts ask himself what he did to deserve this?

“There is no doubt,” he said with a laugh during training camp. “It is a gift of a room and obviously, they’re very talented. But the personalities — they’re all hard-working guys, want to get better and want to be coached.

“That makes my job easy.”

The moves by Paton were not a throw-darts-at-the-board exercise, nor easy. The Broncos knew they needed to overhaul their pass-rush group with the intention that the Russell Wilson-led offense will score more points, producing more get-after-the-quarterback chances.

The Broncos had Miller and Chubb at full flight in ’18, but then Chubb missed 12 games in ’19, Miller all 16 in ’20 and Chubb seven of the first eight last year. Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams at midseason.

Last year, the Broncos had one or no sacks in six of 17 games. When they needed pressure, they couldn’t get it.

Enter Gregory and a healthy Chubb.

The Broncos’ signing of Gregory is a huge swing. Suspensions and injuries have cost him 63 games, including full-season bans in 2017 and ’19. Last year, a calf injury cost him four games.

But when healthy, he could be a force as he takes advantage of playing opposite Chubb and being moved around the line of scrimmage by new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

“He’s been working as hard as anybody (during shoulder surgery rehabilitation) in this building to get back,” Paton said. “He’s got everything. He has speed, he has quickness, he has power, he can beat you inside and he can beat you outside.”

Gregory certainly looks the part at 6-foot-5, 242 pounds. Once he entered team practice work in late August, his athleticism was on full display. He is intrigued about how Evero will move him around.

“I saw it last year (when Evero was a Los Angeles Rams assistant), putting people in different spots to make plays,” Gregory said. “I fully expect him to do the same with us. We have a lot of guys who can rush inside and outside.”

A healthy Chubb would be a boon for the Broncos. He needs to stay available for the team to win and he needs to stay available to get a big contract as he enters free agency in March.

Chubb had 12 sacks as a rookie, but only 8 1/2 in the last three years (24 missed games). He had a regular offseason of training this year for the first time since ’19.

“I saw his drive last year; his body (multiple ankle injuries) just didn’t cooperate,” Paton said. “Bradley is focused. He’s on a mission. I love what I’m seeing. Physical. Tough. And he’s tough to block, run or pass, when he’s rolling and he’s been rolling.”

Leaning on young players

In their most productive seasons, Chubb played 78% of the Broncos’ snaps in ’18 and Gregory 55% of Dallas’ snaps last year. The Broncos knew they needed to make complementary moves in the hope there isn’t a substantial dropoff when one or both are off the field.

Reed started 34 games over three years, but was deemed expendable because of Bonitto and Browning, whose roles will be amplified as the Nos. 3-4 rushers.

Browning finished last year as a starting inside linebacker but was moved this summer. Watts thinks Browning’s experience inside will be beneficial outside.

“Coverage-wise, he immediately has the knowledge that other guys at the position don’t necessarily have,” Watts said. “He understands the bigger picture of coverage and how he fits into it.”

Browning had five sacks for Ohio State in 2020.

The final addition was Bonitto, who had 26 1/2 sacks in his final two years at Oklahoma. He impressed during training camp practices with his athleticism getting around the corner.

Watts said Bonitto’s bend is “definitely rare. The combination of bend and get-off, he has a great ability to anticipate the snap, sink his hips and explode out of his stance. When he gets it right, it flashed off the film and I know it’s scary for those offensive tackles.”

Chubb. Gregory. Reed. Browning. Bonitto. If the Broncos are winning games, there will be enough pass-rush shots for all of them, but it starts with Chubb and Gregory.

“I feel like if we play on the same level together, the sky is the limit,” Chubb said. “I’m excited to get on the field with him and get rolling.”

More pressure required

A look at the teams with the most sacks since 2016:

Staying available

A key for the Broncos’ defense this year is the health/availability of outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory. A year-by-year look at their missed games:

Chubb

Gregory