Broncos sign DE Jared Crick to 2-year pact, adding depth

Jan 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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In a move for depth, the Denver Broncos announced they signed defensive lineman Jared Crick, formerly of the Houston Texans…

The Denver Broncos announced that they have signed former Houston Texans defensive lineman Jared Crick to a two-year contract…

Crick will help fill the void left by Malik Jackson after starting alongside J.J. Watt on the Houston Texans’ star-studded defensive units over the last four years.

The former Nebraska star who played with Ndamukong Suh in his time in Lincoln started 31 out of 32 games the last two seasons in Houston, providing stability on the opposite end of the NFL’s top defensive player (in the regular season, of course. #SB50MVP)

Crick is known as a hard-nosed player, and is just 26 years of age. Drafted back in 2012 by Houston as a value pick in the fourh round, Crick was once considered one of the top defensive players in all of college football, earning All-American and All Conference honors.

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If I’m being completely honest, I love this pickup for the Broncos. This is a young defensive player who is going to cost merely a fraction of what Malik Jackson did (keep in mind, they were from the same draft class) and while he’s not as dynamic a pass rusher as Malik, the Broncos are getting a guy that can be disruptive against the pass but also play well and anchor against the run.

With the pickup of Phil Taylor earlier this offseason, the Broncos are taking some chances on former Big 12 players who were studs in college that have upside to help them this year. Along with the likes of Vance Walker and now Darius Kilgo coming up, the Broncos will have a fun group coming into camp this year, obviously with Derek Wolfe and Sly Williams anchoring the line.

Bill Kollar, the former Texans D-line coach, will obviously be familiar with Crick and was likely consulted in this acquisition.

This is a great move for the Broncos.