Former first-round draft pick Mark Barron has agreed to a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos, the team announced Sunday.
Barron had been in the Denver area since Thursday morning going through COVID-19 testing protocols, sources said.
Barron will provide linebacker depth in Denver, essentially replacing rookie linebacker Justin Strnad, who will miss the season after undergoing wrist surgery last week.
Barron, who turns 31 in October, became a free agent when he was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 16 after only one season with the team.
He started nine of 15 games and played 70% of defensive shots for the Steelers in 2019. By releasing him, Pittsburgh saved $ 5.25 million in salary cap space.
Barron was released by the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 after spending five seasons with the team, during which he was instrumental in helping them win back-to-back division titles in 2017 and 2018 and win their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2001 season.
The Rams acquired Barron midway through the 2014 season from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
The Rams moved Barron from safety to linebacker during the 2015 season, and he ended his first season in the post with 116 tackles, five pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
Overall, he has appeared in 119 games (102 starts) in his career and has 710 tackles, 12 sacks, 9 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles.
Also on Sunday, Denver asked offensive tackle Darrin Paulo for exemptions from New Orleans.
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