The Dolphins have two pretty good edge rushers between well-traveled veteran Melvin Ingram and stud rising young star Jaelan Phillips. They got a third impact player to go after the quarterback by trading for former Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb.
Chubb is having a solid year ahead of needing a new contract as a pending free agent in 2023. Although the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2018 hasn’t lived up to the expectations of being the next Mario Williams from NC State, he is having a strong overall healthy season with six sacks in 2022.
Denver didn’t have plans to re-sign Chubb, given Baron Browning’s emergence and Randy Gregory’s addition had made him more expendable.
Sporting News hands out the trade grades for Miami and Denver below.
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Bradley Chubb trade grades
Dolphins receive:
- EDGE Bradley Chubb
- 2025 fifth-round draft pick
Broncos receive:
- RB Chase Edmonds
- 2023 first-round draft pick
- 2024 fourth-round draft pick
Dolphins grade: C
The Dolphins made more of an “all-in” trade as a 5-3 team that won’t be winning the AFC ahead of the Bills and other playoff powerhouses vs. one that is trying to keep improving as a wild-card contender. Chubb is a fine addition and there will be a big contract extension coming as a long-term replacement for Ingram, who’s playing only on a one-year deal.
But the price of their lone first-rounder (the one acquired from the 49ers) is pretty high and they are expecting Chubb to be a transcendent defender that he may not be. Chubb needs to play up to high early expectations going forward to make the move worth it.
Broncos grade: A-
The Broncos had to be ecstatic to flip Chubb for a first-rounder so they can recoup some of what they’ve lost from whiffing on the Russell Wilson trade. Edmonds is a good fit for their running game to help Latavius Murray and Melvin Gordon and can be good insurance for Javonte Williams in 2023, too.
Denver saw improvement from Chubb but he wasn’t worth that second big contract from their perspective and team officials wouldn’t have felt comfortable affording it, anyway.
