Broncos Sign ex-Cowboys DL Christian Covington

The Broncos continued to add to the roster on Tuesday.

With the ink having barely dried on the 2020 NFL Draft headlines, the Denver Broncos waived four players on Monday, opening up a few roster spots. We might have assumed those spots were to make way for the 17 rookies hitting the roster but the moves were also intended to open up a spot for the veteran free agent Denver signed on Tuesday. 

The Broncos announced the signing of ex-Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Christian Covington, which was first reported Tuesday morning by Adam Caplan. 

Covington (6-foot-2, 300 lbs) is a sixth-year pro. He originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Houston Texans back in 2015 out of Rice University. 

After his rookie deal expired, Covington took his talents to Dallas, signing a one-year deal. In five NFL seasons, he's appeared in 66 games with a combined 16 starts. 

He started six games for Dallas on the D-line last year, totaling 28 tackles (20 solo) and a a sack. Not an addition that's going to blow anyone's socks of out of the gates, but then again, neither was Shelby Harris back in 2017. 

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Here's a snippet from the Broncos' press release on the Covington signing. 

Covington’s career totals include 93 tackles (59 solo), 8.5 sacks (63 yds.), two passes defensed and one forced fumble. He has started multiple games in each of the last four seasons, including a career-high six starts for the Cowboys in 2019 as he tallied a personal-best 28 tackles (20 solo) to go along with one sack (4 yds.) and one pass defensed.

In 2018, Covington helped the Texans allow the fifth-fewest points per game (19.8) in the NFL while contributing 15 tackles (8 solo) and a career-high 3.5 sacks (21 yds.). His four-year Texans totals included 65 tackles (39 solo), 7.5 sacks (59 yds.), one forced fumble and one pass defensed.

An All-Conference USA selection as a redshirt sophomore at Rice, Covington recorded 115 tackles (73 solo), 11.5 sacks (98 yds.), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks in college. He registered 17 tackles (9 solo) and 2.5 sacks (25 yds.) as a redshirt junior in 2014 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

You never know what the future might hold when a player lands with the right team and into the hands of the right coaches. Head Coach Vic Fangio and D-Line Coach Bill Kollar have worked miracles in the past. 

At worst, Covington will compete for a backup role and might not make the roster. At best, he could be a solid rotational piece up front, giving the Broncos' D-line some experience in the reserves. 

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.