The Broncos, not the Cowboys, will sign defensive end Randy Gregory, sources confirmed to The Athletic. Dallas announced it re-signed Gregory to a five-year deal earlier Tuesday morning, but the agreement apparently fell through as the Cowboys deleted their post on Twitter.
The pass rusher's deal with the Cowboys was for 5 years, $70 million with $28 million guaranteed, a source told The Athletic at the time.
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The news comes after Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal that includes $30 million guaranteed, a new contract that provides the Cowboys salary-cap relief.
Gregory, 29, has racked up 85 tackles and 16.5 sacks in five seasons in Dallas, including 6.0 sacks last season, tying a career-high. He entered last season as a starting defensive end, though he suffered a calf injury during practice before Week 10 and was placed on injured reserve for a month. He still started a career-high 11 games for a team that went 12-5.
Gregory, who has missed dozens of games due to various suspensions, played college football at Nebraska and was picked by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Prior to the start of free agency, Denver pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Seahawks to acquire star quarterback Russell Wilson.
For more, follow The Athletic's live updates on NFL free agency here.
(Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
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NFL free agency signing grades
How much has Gregory elevated as a pass rusher?
Larry Holder, NFL writer: Gregory produced an impressive pressure percentage, via TruMedia, with a 15.2 percent rate. That ranked sixth in the league among qualified pass rushers (minimum 200 pass-rush snaps; 176 pass rushers). The five above Gregory were the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, the Steelers’ T.J. Watt and the Packers’ Rashan Gary.
Gregory was on an even higher pressure rate before sustaining a calf injury in mid-November. He ranked third in the league through the first nine weeks of the 2021 season with a 17.3 percent rate (Parsons and the Browns’ Myles Garrett ranked ahead). Gregory also picked up five of his six sacks last year during that span.
The former Cowboys' edge rusher started showing this prowess in 2020, where he compiled a 14.1 percent pressure rate in 170 pass-rush snaps. That ranked 10th overall last season (minimum 170 pass-rush snaps).
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What now for the Cowboys?
Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer: In just a stunning turn of events, Dallas goes from having most of its key pieces coming back on defense to badly needing help at edge rusher. They have some money to spend now that the 5 years, $70 million with $28 million guaranteed isn't going to Gregory.
They need a veteran edge rusher because it’s unlikely they’ll find immediate help in the draft with the top edge rushers likely all gone by Pick 24. They now have to at least kick the tires on the possibility of signing someone like Von Miller or Chandler Jones.
How he fits in Denver
Nick Kosmider, Broncos beat writer: Gregory created a robust market for himself after a career year in 2021, when he became a starter for the first time since being drafted by Dallas in the second round in 2015. He will slot into an immediate starting outside linebacker role in Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 scheme, and Denver hopes his presence will be a boost for a pass rush that lacked punch in 2021 as the Broncos dealt with injuries to Bradley Chubb and the midseason trade of Miller.
Gregory finished with six sacks in 12 games in 2021. His 43 pressures last season ranked 38th in the league and were more than any other Broncos pass rusher created with the exception of Miller. He has also forced eight fumbles across the past three seasons, demonstrating a knack for producing turnovers Denver has lacked in recent seasons.
What to make of the Broncos’ FA moves so far in the wake of the Wilson trade
Lindsay Jones, NFL senior writer: George Paton's moves have been strategic. Signing defensive tackle D.J. Jones fills a void left by Shelby Harris, who heads to Seattle as part of the Wilson deal. Bringing in Randy Gregory fills another need at edge rusher opposite Chubb, and he'll come in at a cheaper price point than what the team would have had to pay for older players like Jones or Miller.
To me, it's a sign that Paton knows he needs to continue being aggressive, but also budget-conscious compared to the overall market. Next, I'd like to see if Paton is able to address the right tackle position, and what it would cost to finally get some stability at that position.