Realizing, at long lost, they have a special weakside linebacker, the Broncos have reached an agreement in principle to a five-year contract extension with D.J. Williams, according to two team sources.
Williams, 26, would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season.
A “Will” linebacker by trade, Williams was the Broncos’ first-round draft pick out of Miami in 2004 and led the team with 114 tackles that year while finishing third in the NFL defensive rookie of the year balloting.
But after the Broncos re-signed Ian Gold prior to the 2005 season, Williams was shifted to the strongside linebacker, a position that cut his playing time in half for two seasons. He was given the chance to play middle linebacker last year in the unique defensive scheme devised by coordinator Jim Bates.
But after a 2007 season in which the Broncos ranked 30th in defending the run, Bates was essentially fired and Williams was moved back to the weakside linebacker position he had played since high school.
The Broncos did not begin discussing a new contract with Williams until after they saw him play during the preseason.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
