AFC Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Texans

Broncos

Last year, Broncos HC Vic Fangio made it one of his public goals to help LB Von Miller become the NFL’s defensive player of the year. That was just one of the goals that didn’t happen when Denver’s season went off the rails last year. Heading into 2020, Miller has a renewed focus on taking another step higher in what’s already been an elite career. 

“I’ve got to lead the league in sacks,” Miller said via Ben Swanson of the official team website. “And I feel like leading the league in sacks and Defensive Player of the Year go hand in hand. … I’ve got to put out one of those 22-sack years, 22-plus.”

“Every great pass rusher is doing it,” Miller added. “I just can’t average high sack [numbers] — I’ve got to lead the league. … DeMarcus [Ware] has done it, J.J. [Watt] has done it, Aaron Donald — all the great pass-rushers have done it, and I have to do it. I’m not going to stop until [I do it].”

Chargers

As part of the exodus of players out of Carolina this offseason, the Panthers traded Pro Bowl G Trai Turner out west to the Chargers. Turner might not be the only Panther heading to Los Angeles, as former QB Cam Newton has been speculated as a potential option for the Chargers. Tyrod Taylor is currently penciled in as the starter and the Chargers are expected to draft another quarterback as the long-term heir to Philip Rivers, but Newton is a more established option than either. Turner said he still talks with Newton and the two have discussed the possibility of reuniting. 

“Yeah, we talk, we still have conversations about that. I think right now his biggest thing for him is to be 100 percent healthy, which I think he is, not just physically but mentally also to see what his next phase would be in his career,” Turner told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. “I do believe that he’s a starter in the NFL, I don’t know where it would be. May or may not be with the Chargers but if he is that would be awesome and if it’s Tyrod [Taylor], that’s still great. I’m riding with whoever’s back there so I’m excited about that. But yeah, it’ll be interesting to see man. I don’t know, I feel like you got more of the scoop than me so I guess I’d be asking you.”

Texans

• Texans CB Bradley Roby‘s three-year, $31.5 million deal includes a $3 million signing bonus, base salaries of $4.5 million, $9.5 million and $9.5 million, with up to $500,000 in annual per-game active roster bonuses. His 2020 base salary and $8 million of his 2021 base salary are fully guaranteed, while the deal includes an annual de-escalator clause. (Aaron Wilson)
• Roby also has a $3.5 million roster bonus in 2020. (Wilson)
• Texas A&M WR Quartney Davis met with the Texans at the Senior Bowl and Combine. (Aaron Wilson)
• TCU RB Sewo Olonilua had a formal interview with the Texans at the Combine. (Mark Berman)