Broncos add more defensive line depth by agreeing to terms with veteran Christian Covington

The Broncos added more depth to their defensive line Tuesday, agreeing to terms with 26-year-old veteran Christian Covington.

Covington, 26, is a sixth-year defensive end who appeared in all 16 games last year for Dallas, starting six. Before that, he played four seasons in Houston, mostly as a reserve.

Covington’s deal is for one year and up to $1.75 million, with $625,000 guaranteed. The Vancouver, Canada, native played collegiately at Rice before being drafted in the sixth round by the Texans in 2015.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder will bring positional versatility to the Broncos’ rotation because of his experience in the Texans’ 3-4 front and the Cowboys’ 4-3 scheme.

In 66 career games (15 starts), Covington has 93 tackles with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Covington had 28 tackles and one sack with Dallas in 2019, and he’s the latest addition to a crowded Denver defensive line unit.

With Jurrell Casey (acquired via trade with Tennessee) and Shelby Harris (re-signed) as the starting ends and Mike Purcell (tendered) at nose tackle, Denver’s contingent of defensive line backups now features Covington, DeMarcus Walker, Dre’Mont Jones, Jonathan Harris, Kyle Peko and Joel Heath, in addition to recent draft pick McTelvin Agim.

The Broncos typically dressed five linemen last year, so the competition will be for two game-day roles and likely one roster spot.

Jones was a third-round pick last year and Agim was drafted last week, which puts the squeeze on Walker, a former second-round pick entering the final year of his rookie contract.