ENGLEWOOD, Colo — On the defensive side of the ball, the Broncos entered free agency this week with three priorities: A safety to replace Justin Simmons, a defensive tackle to fortify the run stoppage and an inside linebacker to replace Josey Jewell.
Check, Check. And Cody Barton makes a third check.
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After signing safety Brandon Jones and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach earlier this week, the Broncos on Friday signed the inside linebacker Barton to a one-year deal that has a base value of "about the same as he made last year," which was $3.5 million and does have a maximum value of $4 million, a source told 9NEWS.
Barton, 27, was a third-round pick out of Utah by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2019 draft, only to spend his first three seasons stuck behind a Mike linebacker named Bobby Wagner. After Wagner was released prior to the 2022 season, Barton stepped in and made 136 tackles as the linebacker playing alongside every-down backer Jordyn Brooks.
A free agent after that season, Barton a year ago signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Washington, where in 13 starts he had 121 tackles and an interception against the Jets with a 52-yard return.
Barton missed the middle four games of last season with a high ankle sprain but returned for a stretch where he had double-digit tackles in four straight games.
Jewell, a starter for most of his previous six seasons with the Broncos, was also a free agent and received a three-year, $22.75 million contract from Carolina.
Alex Singleton will remain the Broncos' lead inside linebacker, as he made 163 and 177 tackles in the past two years for the team.
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