Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 2y

Denver Broncos' NFL free-agent signings 2022: Randy Gregory, D.J. Jones bolster defense

NFL free agency is underway, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2022 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year began March 16 at 4 p.m. ET, which means free-agent signings began to be made made official after that. The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins April 28 on ESPN.

The Broncos missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, resulting in the firing of coach Vic Fangio and the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett. The Broncos made their biggest offseason splash before free agency even began, trading for former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Now it's a matter of getting all the pieces right around Wilson on what was already a young, talented roster.

Here's a breakdown of every 2022 NFL free-agent signing by the Denver Broncos, and how each will impact the upcoming season:

Randy Gregory, defensive end


Gregory agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract ($28 million guaranteed) with the Broncos just hours after he had agreed to a similar contract to return to the Dallas Cowboys.

What it means: The Broncos, and general manager George Paton in particular, have kept their promise to be aggressive on all fronts this offseason. Gregory was believed to have agreed to a deal to remain in Dallas -- the team released it on their social media accounts -- but the Broncos got Gregory for largely the same deal he had been offered by the Cowboys. The Broncos get a 29-year-old pass-rusher to pair with Bradley Chubb at outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. They are banking on the belief that Gregory's best football is in front of him after a rocky start to his career that has included multiple suspensions.

What's the risk: Gregory has been suspended multiple times in his career for violations of the league's substance abuse policy-- totaling 54 games, including missing the 2017 and 2019 seasons. He's never had more than six sacks in a season and never started more than 11 games in a season. The Broncos have given him a contract of an elite edge rusher and for it to be a success Gregory has to be on the field and play like an elite edge rusher. He was on the Cowboys' leadership council last season which was indicative of his standing on the team and admitted publicly last season he has a "lot to prove."


D.J. Jones, defensive tackle


The Broncos have agreed to a three-year deal with former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle D.J. Jones.

What it means: With a coaching change comes some personnel changes and one of the Broncos' many needs on defense is a more physical presence in the middle. Jones, coming off a career-best 56 tackles this past season, should provide that. He has played at least 40% of the 49ers' defensive snaps (51% this past season) each of the past three years. The Broncos are thin in the defensive front -- they are expected to play a three-man front much of the time under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero -- after they included Shelby Harris in the trade for quarterback Russell Wilson. Too many times this past season the Broncos couldn't hold the point of attack in their run defense, especially in moments when they needed a fourth quarter stop or two.

What's the risk: Jones got a three-year, $30 million deal with $20 million expected to be guaranteed so the Broncos want to be right. He has to be the durable, productive player he was this past season when he started every game and topped 500 snaps for the season. The Broncos had just two defensive linemen top 500 snaps last season -- Harris and Dre'Mont Jones -- and with Harris now with the Seahawks, Jones has to be an early-down presence. He has seven career sacks so he likely won't provide that kind of impact, but if he gives the Broncos the kind of season he had for the 49ers in 2021, this will be a quality addition.


Josey Jewell, linebacker

What it means: Both of the Broncos' starting inside linebackers -- Jewell and Alexander Johnson -- were unrestricted free agents so in a perfect world they wanted to retain at least one of them. Jewell missed all but two games last season with a torn pectoral muscle, but general manager George Paton said at the combine earlier this month Jewell "was ready to go right now.'' Jewell is an active, productive linebacker who does some of his best work pre-snap when he keeps the Broncos' front seven aligned, something that was sorely missed when he was out of the lineup. The team's former coaching staff consistently lauded his importance in the defense and the new defensive staff obviously agrees.

What's the risk: A low risk endeavor for the Broncos, given Jewell's production. The quibble would be that the league is a pass-first operation on offense and Jewell can get isolated in pass coverage at times, especially in the intermediate parts of the field. But he often can make up for that disadvantage with his anticipation. He's not at his best against opposing tight ends. If the Broncos are smart about how they deploy him, he can be a consistently productive player. His teammates say he is the player they go to when they need an answer to a question.


Tom Compton, offensive tackle

Compton has signed a one-year deal with the Broncos, the team announced.

What it means: Compton, who has played in 123 games in his NFL career with 44 starts, can play both tackle and guard. He also has experience in the same kind of outside zone run game Nathaniel Hackett wants to use with the Broncos. Compton spent the last two seasons in a similar system with Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. Compton also played a season with current Broncos offensive line coach Butch Barry in 2021 when Barry was the assistant offensive line coach with the 49ers. Compton will likely get an early look in offseason workouts at right tackle.

What's the risk: Very little. Compton is a versatile player with experience in the Broncos' offensive scheme. His experience in a similar system dates back to his rookie season in 2013 in Washington, when Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator and Mike Shanahan was the team's head coach.


K'Waun Williams, cornerback

The Broncos are bringing in Williams, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, on a two-year deal.

What it means: Williams figures to get the first look as the team's nickel cornerback. He's played that role for the 49ers for much of the past five seasons and while the Broncos were also talking to representatives for Bryce Callahan to return, Williams is the initial pick for the job. He's physical -- 11 career forced fumbles -- and active with four seasons of at least 45 tackles to go with seven career sacks. With Pat Surtain II, Ronald Darby and now Williams as the top three cornerbacks, the Broncos will continue to add to the depth chart -- general manager George Paton routinely says "you can never have enough corners" -- but Williams is a proven addition for the nickel job.

What's the risk: For anybody who plays with the kind of physical edge Williams does, injuries are always going to be the caveat. While he did miss the 2016 season with bone spurs, he has played in at least 13 games in six of his other seven seasons in the league. The Broncos will need to continue to look in free agency as well as in the draft at cornerback given Callahan, Kyle Fuller, Michael Ford and Nate Hairston were all free agents.


Alex Singleton, linebacker

The Broncos signed the former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker to a one-year deal.

What it means: Singleton was the Eagles' leading tackler in each of the last two seasons -- he topped 100 tackles in both years -- so he has potential to carve out a spot at inside linebacker in the Broncos' defense. But he also was a high-volume player on the Eagles' special teams units (he was the Eagles' special teams captain) and Broncos general manager George Paton has made no secret he wants a significant upgrade there as well. The Broncos have struggled mightily at times on special teams during the current six-year playoff drought.

What's the risk: Singleton is obviously betting on himself with a one-year, $1.1 million deal that includes another $750,000 in incentives if he hits all of the benchmarks. The Broncos have such a big need on special teams that this is a quality signing even if, for some reason, Singleton doesn't play nearly as much on defense for the Broncos as he did the last two seasons with the Eagles.


Calvin Anderson, offensive tackle

What it means: The Broncos have two other offensive tackles -- Bobby Massie and Cam Fleming --- who are unrestricted free agents. Keeping Anderson, who was a restricted free agent, gives them some flexibility moving forward since he has started games at both left and right tackle during his time with the Broncos. To that end the Broncos have also added guard Ben Braden, who has played four seasons for the Packers during Nathaniel Hackett's time with the team as well as Broncos offensive coordinator Justin Outten. Braden has played in 16 games with no starts during his career. The Broncos also re-signed restricted free agent tight end/fullback Andrew Beck.

What's the risk: Anderson's $1.5 million deal carries little risk. He is a reliable player with versatility, athleticism and is still improving each season. He can also, if he hits all of the escalators in the contract, get up to $2.5 million if he gets into the lineup at right tackle, where the Broncos will be looking to name a starter once offseason workouts begin.


Josh Johnson, quarterback

The Broncos signed the veteran quarterback, who is now with his 14th team, to a one-year deal.

What it means: When the Broncos included Drew Lock in the trade for Russell Wilson, they needed a backup quarterback. They've certainly gone the veteran route with the well-travelled Johnson. The 35-year-old has spent time with 13 different NFL franchises before the Broncos and has appeared in regular-season games for six of those teams. Wilson has been one of the most durable players in the league so if all goes as the Broncos hope, Johnson will not see much action in the regular season.

What's the risk: Johnson knows the job, knows how to prepare, will practice against the team's defense like it means something to him -- all must-haves in the job. He depth of knowledge on coaches, offensive schemes and a knack for fitting in with the group of teammates he's around make him a safe bet for the Broncos.


Eric Tomlinson, tight end

The Broncos have agreed to a one-year deal with Tomlinson, who played with the Baltimore Ravens last season.

What it means: Tomlinson is largely a blocker -- he has three receptions over the past three seasons combined -- and will likely replace the role Eric Saubert had in the team's offense last season. He played in every game for the Ravens last season.

What's the risk: Low risk deal for the Broncos for a player who fills a specific need in the new offense.


J.R. Reed, safety

The Broncos are adding former New York Giants safety J.R. Reed on a one-year deal.

What it means: Reed spent parts of two seasons with Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero when the two were with the Los Angeles Rams. Reed's signing, at this point, is primarily a special teams move. He played 106 snaps in seven games with the Rams in 2020 and has only played snaps on defense in two games during his career -- both with the Giants this past season. The Broncos are still aggressively pursuing options at cornerback and safety in free agency and will look at both positions in the draft as well.

What's the risk: Almost none. The Broncos need upgrades throughout all of their special teams units and any signing who can provide a boost there has an excellent chance at making the roster.


Billy Turner, offensive tackle

The Broncos and Turner agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

What it means: Turner returns to the Broncos -- he played 20 games for the team over three seasons before spending three years in Green Bay -- to enter a competition for the right tackle spot. Turner also played at guard in his previous stint in Denver, but will now compete with Calvin Anderson and Tom Compton for the starting right tackle position. Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett was the Packers offensive coordinator for the previous three years, so he knows Turner well.

What's the risk: It's a short-term deal with a player the coaching staff is familiar with and Turner can play both tackle and guard, so there's little risk to add him at this point in free agency. It also gives the Broncos some flexibility to stick to a best-player-on-the-board draft philosophy with each of their picks to avoid reaching to pick players for need.


Kareem Jackson, safety

The Broncos are bringing back safety Kareem Jackson on a one-year deal.

What it means: General manager George Paton continues to work through free agency with his stated goal to get to the draft with the Broncos in position to select the best player available at every pick instead of having to fill an immediate need. Jackson's signing, with Caden Sterns' presence on the roster as well, means the Broncos don't have to draft a safety. Jackson is a player the Broncos have kept in contact with since free agency opened and it is the second year in a row he has signed a one-year deal to remain with the team.

What's the risk: Financially there is little risk in the deal and if Jackson remains healthy the Broncos get a high-performing player back in their defense. Jackson will turn 34 on April 10, but he's played at least 12 games in each of his previous 12 years and has played at least 15 games in seven of those seasons. With Jackson and Justin Simmons the Broncos have one of the better safety tandems in the league.

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