Broncos Sign DT J’Vonne Parker, Officially Add Kenny Peterson

J'Vonne Parker #69 of the Cleveland Browns rushes against the Chicago Bears in a preseason game at Soldier Field August 30, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday announced the signing of free agent defensive tackle J’Vonne Parker. The club also finalized a previously reported deal with DL Kenny Peterson, who has spent the previous three seasons with the Broncos.

Parker (6-4, 325 lbs.) is a fifth year defensive tackle who has already spent time with Carolina, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, and Cleveland. An undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, Parker has appeared in 11 career regular-season games (0 starts), totaling six tackles (4 solo) and one fumble recovery.

Peterson (6-3. 300 lbs.) played at both defensive tackle and defensive end in his career and will provide versatility for a rebuilding Broncos defense. In 60 career regular-season games (1 start), Peterson has totaled 108 tackles (68 solo), seven sacks (36 yds.), seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He has appeared in two playoff games (0 starts) for his career, registering four tackles and one sack (2 yds.) in those contests. He tallied career bests in tackles and sacks in 16 games for the Broncos last season.

The Broncos continue to add depth to the defensive line. While Parker will have to compete for a roster spot in training camp, I’m excited to see Peterson get a contract. I’d expect him to compete for one of the starting defensive end spots in training camp. Full press release after the jump.

BRONCOS RE-SIGN UNRESTRICTED FREE-AGENT DL KENNY PETERSON;

SIGN FREE-AGENT DT J’VONNE PARKER

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Tuesday re-signed unrestricted free-agent defensive lineman Kenny Peterson and signed free-agent defensive tackle J’Vonne Parker, it was announced. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Peterson (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) is a seventh-year defensive lineman who played for the Broncos during the last three seasons after they signed him as a free agent on Oct. 11, 2006. He spent his first three NFL seasons with Green Bay, which selected him in the third round (94th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft from Ohio State University.

In 60 career regular-season games (1 start), Peterson has totaled 108 tackles (68 solo), seven sacks (36 yds.), seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He has appeared in two playoff games (0 starts) for his career, registering four tackles and one sack (2 yds.) in those contests.

Last season, Peterson saw time in all 16 games (1 start) for Denver and recorded a career-high 39 tackles (23 solo) while tying his personal best with three sacks (14 yds.), which ranked third on the Broncos. The defensive lineman also added one pass breakup and one forced fumble for Denver in 2008.

Peterson had 30 tackles (17 solo), three sacks (14 yds.), three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery with the Packers in 2005, his final season with that club.

A second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection in 2002 as a member of Ohio State’s national championship team, Peterson played 45 career games (15 starts) for the Buckeyes. He had five tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in the Buckeyes’ Fiesta Bowl win over Miami that clinched the national title during the 2002 season.

Peterson, who received consensus All-America honors at McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, was born on Nov. 21, 1978.

Parker (6-foot-4, 325 pounds) is a fifth-year defensive tackle who joins the Broncos after seeing time on the rosters of Carolina (2008), Atlanta (2008), Baltimore (2007-08), Dallas (2006) and Cleveland (2005-06). He entered the NFL with the Browns in 2005 as a college free agent from Rutgers University.

Parker has appeared in 11 career regular-season games (0 starts), totaling six tackles (4 solo) and one fumble recovery.

In 2008, Parker saw his only game action in the Panthers’ regular-season finale at New Orleans on Dec. 28. He began the year on Baltimore’s practice squad and competed on Atlanta’s practice squad before he was signed to Carolina’s active roster on Dec. 23.

The defensive tackle appeared in a career-high six games during the 2006 season, seeing time in four games with the Browns after playing two games with the Cowboys. Parker finished that year with a personal-best five tackles (3 solo).

As a rookie with Cleveland in 2005, Parker began the season on the club’s practice squad before appearing in its final four games.

Parker finished his collegiate career at Rutgers after playing two seasons at Howard University. He saw time in 11 games as a senior for the Scarlet Knights.

A third-team All-Essex County selection at Newark Tech High School in Newark, N.J., Parker was born on June 7, 1982.