The Broncos will release Randy Gregory amid the youth movement

The Broncos will release Randy Gregory amid the youth movement
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According to sources who spoke to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday, the Denver Broncos‘ hopes that outside linebacker Randy Gregory may develop into an outstanding pass-rusher were crushed.

ESPN was informed by sources that Gregory and his agents had requested his release earlier this week. After talking about Gregory’s contract, projected playing time, and mindset, coach Sean Payton, general manager George Paton, and owner/CEO Greg Penner determined that releasing him was the best course of action, sources told ESPN.

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In March 2022, Gregory, 30 years old, agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal. According to the Roster Management System, his $14 million base salary for this season and an additional $5 million for the following season are fully guaranteed.

Nik Bonitto, a second-year outside linebacker, took his place in the starting lineup for last week’s game against the Chicago Bears. Gregory completed 33 of Sunday’s snaps with three tackles and one QB hit. In four games thus far this season, he has only recorded nine tackles and one sack.

Including score defense, total defense, and run defense, the Broncos’ defense ranks last or very near lowest in the league. With a 30.5% pass rush victory rate, the defense ranks lowest in the league.

Jonathon Cooper returned a forced fumble for a touchdown after Bonitto forced it, giving him 2.5 sacks overall in Sunday’s victory.

This week, Payton stated that “[Bonitto’s] getting more reps.” “… I thought [Sunday]’s edges were much better.”

Payton had said that the team’s outside linebackers, Gregory included, occasionally rushed too far, opening up escape routes for quarterbacks. The starting outside linebackers right now are Bonitto and Cooper.

One game has been played this season by Frank Clark (hip), and Baron Browning, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following OTAs, is currently on the team’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The Broncos are hoping that both can make a comeback in the upcoming weeks.

Thomas Incoom, a rookie who went undrafted, has also played defense on occasion.

Gregory had never played more than 47 defensive snaps in a single game this season, with his highest total coming in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders, when he took part in 47 (64% of the game’s defensive snaps). In neither of the previous two games, he had participated in more than half of the defensive snaps.

Gregory promised to have a better year than 2022, when he played in just six games due to a knee ailment that needed surgery in Week 4 and received a one-game ban for punching Rams tackle Oday Aboushi following a 51-14 loss on Christmas Day. Gregory had been taken out of the game following numerous penalties.

According to the Broncos, Gregory has taken a significant hit. The Broncos expected him to take the place of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, who were moved in 2021 and 2022, respectively, when he signed last year.

Gregory’s career has never included a full season due to injuries and 54-game suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He’s never had more than six sacks in a season and has never started more than 11 games.

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