On a day the Broncos secured their priority in-house free agents, the chances of bringing back a former defensive star were exhausted.
The Broncos signed defensive tackle Gerard Warren and tailback Ron Dayne to multiyear contracts Saturday, the first day of NFL free agency, after weeks of intense negotiations with both players. Denver also re- signed long snapper Mike Leach to a four-year deal.
Defensive end Trevor Pryce left town, agreeing to a five-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens worth $25 million – including a $10 million signing bonus.
The Broncos cut Pryce, running back Mike Anderson and tight end Jeb Putzier on March 1 because of salary cap concerns. After a new collective bringing agreement was reached, giving Denver $7.5 million more in cap room, it was thought the Broncos could bring back Pryce.
But the Broncos made it clear Warren was their focus, paying the player nicknamed “Big Money” handsomely following a season when he proved skeptics wrong. The Cleveland Browns made Warren the No. 3 pick in 2001, but after four sluggish seasons in Cleveland, he was acquired by the Broncos for a fourth-round pick last March.
Saturday he agreed to a six- year, $36 million contract – including a $10 million signing bonus. The deal had been in the works for weeks.
Warren continued to make it clear to his agent, Joel Segal, that he wanted to stay in Denver.
“Gerard directed me to get it done with the Broncos,” Segal said. “We didn’t even attempt to get to the market because Gerard was so intent on getting back to Denver.”
Warren’s signing completes Denver’s goal of holding onto its free agents. After reaching the AFC championship game last season, the Broncos were determined to keep big-ticket free agents Tom Nalen, Matt Lepsis and Warren. They re-signed Nalen and Lepsis, the anchors of the offensive line, in February. Denver has kept free agents Sam Brandon, a safety, and defensive end John Engelberger, and extended existing deals for safety John Lynch and defensive end Courtney Brown. Denver is expected to announce the re-signing of special-teams captain Keith Burns soon.
The Broncos’ remaining free agents, all backups, are linebacker Patrick Chukwurah, defensive tackle Monsanto Pope and safety Chris Young. Chukwurah is expected back; Pope is visiting the New York Jets on Tuesday.
Dayne signed a three-year contract. He received a signing bonus of about $750,000 and is the Broncos’ in-house favorite to win the starting tailback job. But Denver is likely to draft a tailback next month and could bring in Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis.
Dayne said he is ready to compete.
“I’m not worrying about who may come in,” Dayne said. “I’m just going to do my job. This is where I want to be.”
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
