D.J. Jones confirms he signed with Broncos in part due to Wilson trade
Mar 17, 2022, 2:44 PM
The Denver Broncos introduced defensive tackle D.J. Jones on Thursday afternoon at UCHealth Training Center.
And he might not be here without Russell Wilson.
Jones spoke for about 10 minutes and was peppered with questions about other NFL teams that pursued him in free agency and if Denver’s major trade for Wilson helped bring him to the Broncos.
“It was a good bit of teams (and) some interesting offers,” Jones said. “We had a lot of love from teams but I felt like this was home for me from the jump, especially when they made the move on Russ (Wilson). I knew this was where I wanted to be. I wanted to win immediately and that’s what we are doing here.”
Jones, who obviously knows Wilson well from their NFC West days, had rave reviews about his former foe turned teammate.
“Stability is everything, especially playing against a guy like Russ. Knowing his tendencies, knowing he’s going to give you his all every game. When I knew he was the quarterback, I didn’t flinch. I wanted to be here,” Jones said.
I asked Jones which teammates he’s spoken with so far, and he mentioned the likes of Dre’Mont Jones, DeShawn Williams, Bradley Chubb and the not-officially-signed yet Randy Gregory.
“It just feels like family. That’s why I’m so excited. The vibe here, the aura, is top-tier. I love it,” Jones said.
The former 49ers defensive tackle has 126 career tackles and seven sacks and is known as a run stopper. The Broncos gave Jones a three-year, $30M deal in free agency, but he may not have accepted it without Wilson coming to Denver first. It’s funny how much having a star QB can help attract other top-tier talent — something Broncos fans remember from the Peyton Manning era, but haven’t experienced in a long time.
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