The Denver Broncos have signed free-agent wide receiver Andre Caldwell, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway announced on Thursday. In addition, the team agreed to terms with fifth-year linebacker and unrestricted free-agent Wesley Woodyard to remain with the club.
Caldwell (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) is a fifth-year player who has seen action in 51 career games (14 starts) with Cincinnati and totaled 124 receptions for 1,172 yards (9.5 avg.) with six touchdowns. Over the past three seasons, he averaged nearly 38 receptions and 365 yards for the Bengals.
"Andre is a speed wide receiver who was very productive in the first part of his career with Cincinnati," Elway said. "He will add quality depth and competition to our roster, and we are happy to have him."
Caldwell entered the NFL as a third-round selection by Cincinnati in the 2008 NFL Draft (97th overall) from the University of Florida, where he left as the school's all-time leader in receptions (185) while ranking third in receiving yards (2,349).
He attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fla., and was born on April 15, 1985. His older brother, Reche, was an NFL wide receiver for San Diego (2002-05), New England (2006) and Washington (2007).
Woodyard (6-foot-0, 229 pounds) ranked second on the Broncos with 87 defensive tackles (60 solo) and finished first on the club with 10 special-teams stops in 2011. In 58 career games played (16 starts), he totaled 202 defensive stops (154 solo), one sack (10 yds.), one interception (0 yds.), five passes defensed and three forced fumbles. He also tallied 45 special-teams tackles in four seasons, leading the club in that category three times during that span.
"He's a guy that we like, and his teammates feel good about him," Head Coach John Fox said. "I think he's a good addition back for us, and what role he will be in will be determined by how he performs."
Woodyard was originally signed by Denver as a college free agent in 2008 from the University of Kentucky, where he started 42 career games and recorded three 100-tackle campaigns.