Jamal Williams, Justin Bannan released

Jamal Williams at 2010 Broncos training camp (BroncoTalk.net)

The Denver Broncos‘ move to a 4-3 means the team won’t need the big-name free agent defensive linemen they signed a year ago.

Hence, the Broncos released two starting defensive linemen Thursday, letting Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan go despite the remaining several years on their contracts. Each spent one season with the club.

A year ago, Williams and Bannan signed multi-million respective three-year and five-year deals that expected them to provide a stout front line for the Broncos’ fully revamped 3-4 defense. Instead, John Fox and company decided their services wouldn’t be needed as the Broncos move to a 4-3.

Williams, 34, and Bannan, 31, join Ronald Fields as predominant 3-4 defensive linemen the Broncos are allowing to hit the market. This offseason’s defensive line rebuilding will be unlike any other — less than a handful of defensive linemen are signed onto the Broncos’ roster beyond next season. And those (Elvis Dumervil, Robert Ayers) were linebackers a few months ago.