Randy Gregory heads to Broncos, after Cowboys announced he was staying

In one of the most surprising management changes in free agency history, the defender heads to Denver after his original team, Dallas, made the announcement of his renewal.

ENGLEWOOD — In a surprising — and very public — change of heart on free agency, the Denver Broncos have agreed terms with veteran outside linebacker randy gregory.

The Dallas Cowboys had announced on their social media accounts Tuesday morning that gregory had agreed to return to the team, but multiple sources from the broncos confirmed that gregory had instead agreed to a contract with Denver. The deal is basically the same in terms of construction: five years for $70 million, with $28 million in guarantees, coming in the first two years of the deal, mostly.

The broncos did a thorough investigation into past suspensions gregory before free agency opened, and the club’s personnel department had rated him as one of the top pass rushers available in free agency. The team had negotiated throughout Monday with the representatives of gregorywaiting to reach an agreement.

The broncos also agreed to retain linebacker Josey Jewell on a two-year, $11 million deal on Tuesday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The general manager of the broncos, George Pattonhe said during the NFL scouting combine what Jewell he is “fully recovered” from a torn pectoral muscle suffered in Week 2 of last season.

gregory29 years old, joins Bradley Chub as the starting outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense of the broncos. Denver wait to gregory can continue his professional resurgence.

Due to a variety of injuries and suspensions, gregory he has never started more than 11 games in a season, and has never finished with more than six sacks.

His surprise change of address is not the first time that the broncos they’ve convinced a free agent who seemed destined elsewhere in the process. In 2014, they agreed to terms of a deal with the wide receiver’s representatives. Emmanuel SandersWhile Sanders I was in the compound Kansas City Chiefs on an official visit.

That was the same year that the broncos signed to DeMarcus Warewho had been cut down by the cowboys. What Ware, gregory also carried the No. 94 in Dallas.

The agreement with gregory and the trade for the quarterback Russell Wilson they give the Broncos two of the biggest impact moves in the league over the past two weeks.

After missing two full seasons and 14 games in another campaign due to suspensions related to multiple substance abuse policy violations, gregory had become one of the best elements of the cowboys to pressure quarterbacks, and was added to the player leadership council by head coach mike mccarthy in 2021.

gregory he started a career-high 11 games last season, missing time with a strained calf and COVID-19. He had 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, three forced fumbles, one recovery, and one interception, while matching his career high with six sacks.

The cowboys they selected gregory in the second round of Draft 2015 after various off-field issues hurt his status. After missing most of the 2016 campaign and all of 2017, gregory he had a career-high six sacks in 14 games during the 2018 campaign, missing two games through injury.

He was suspended for the entirety of the 2019 season and the first six games of 2020, but the cowboys remained loyal to gregory in the midst of all his problems, granting him an extension for one season.

Forever, gregory accumulates 16.5 sacks in 50 games.

Information from Todd Archer was used in the writing of this note.