NFL Rumors: Jared Crick Leaving Houston Texans For Denver Broncos
NFL rumors are swirling around Jared Crick. He’s a free agent, and it appears that the Houston Texans are set to lose him. According to NBC Sports, the 26-year-old defensive end is set to sign a contract to join the Denver Broncos. The team needs help replacing Malik Jackson, who left for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Crick has connections with the Broncos through three key members of the coaching staff. The familiarity helped him land in Denver.
In 2012, the Houston Texans selected Jared Crick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. The former Nebraska Cornhuskers star was the 126th overall selection. The Texans wanted more depth on their defensive line, and that’s what Crick provided them during his first two seasons in the National Football League. The following two seasons, Jared went from being a rotation player on the defensive line to being a starter, missing only one start during that period of time.
While Jared Crick played for the Houston Texans, the coaching staff consisted of head coach Gary Kubiak, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and defensive line coach Bill Kollar. All three hold the same position now with the Denver Broncos. They’re quite familiar with Crick and what he brings to the table. Kubiak, Phillips, and Kollar also know that they are bringing in a guy that already knows their playbook and understands what their defensive scheme is designed to do.
At six-foot-four and 285 pounds, Jared Crick brings good size and athleticism to the Denver Broncos defensive line. The New Mexico native also has a knack for knowing when to raise his arms and deflect passes from the quarterback at the line of scrimmage. That’s a trait that Bill Kollar especially loves, because it disrupts the tempo of opposing NFL offenses. Kollar is one of those defensive line coaches who goes out of his way to find players who can do that on a consistent basis.
While financial terms of the deal are not available just yet, reports have surfaced that Jared Crick signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos. That gives him enough time to try and secure the starting defensive end spot that was vacated by Malik Jackson. That’s going to be hard to do, because Jackson played a vital part in the Broncos defense being able to lead the team to the Super Bowl.
Jared Crick is going to have some competition for playing time. Vance Walker and Kenny Anunike are both still on the Denver Broncos roster, and they’re both gunning to replace Malik Jackson as well. Practice squad player George Uko might be in the mix as well. Derek Wolfe will more than likely win the other starting defensive end position, so Crick, Walker, Anunike, and Uko are going to have to win over Wade Phillips and Bill Kollar.
Denver Broncos general manager John Elway knows that the defensive end position is a priority. While he continues to find replacements for Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, Elway is also seeking out a defensive lineman. Ohio State Buckeyes star Joey Bosa is said to be on the radar. He’s one of the more coveted players in the upcoming NFL Draft. Should the Broncos somehow find themselves in a position to nab Bosa, who might be a generational player, then Elway will seriously consider it.
The heavy cost of winning the Super Bowl is that NFL teams will be gunning for your players in free agency. The Denver Broncos have lost a good amount of talent so far. It is now up to John Elway and that Broncos front office to replenish the talent base for another run.
[Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]
