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NFL Free Agency: Broncos sign defensive lineman Antonio Smith to a one-year deal

Smith re-joins Wade and Kollar in Denver.

By Scotty Payne
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos and defensive lineman Antonio Smith have agreed to a one-year, 2 million dollar contract.

Smith (6-3, 290 pounds) is a 12th-year player who appeared in 156 career regular-season games (133 starts) with Arizona (2004-08), Houston (2009-13) and Oakland (2014) during his first 11 seasons. He entered the NFL with the Cardinals as a fifth-round selection (135th overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft from Oklahoma State University.

His career regular-season totals include 303 tackles (230 solo), 44.5 sacks (277.5 yds.), eight passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries. He also owns 19 tackles (17 solo), three sacks (18 yds.), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in eight postseason games played (7 starts).

Smith started at least 15 games in each of his last six campaigns and is one of just eight NFL players to produce multiple sacks in every season since 2005.

He posted 27 of his 44.5 career sacks during his five seasons in Houston, where he played for Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak and Defensive Line Coach Bill Kollar. Smith was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011 after opening all 16 games for the Texans and producing 6.5 sacks for the league’s No. 2-ranked defensive unit (285.7 ypg).

Smith gives the Broncos some extra depth at the defensive end position. He will be joining Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe and Vance Walker. I would expect Smith to contribute on passing downs as an interior pass rusher. It's what he does best.

I still believe the Broncos will look to address this position via the NFL Draft. Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe and Smith will all be free agents after this season.

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