Randy

Gregory

Gregory signed a one-year deal with the Bucs this offseason and then ghosted them at training camp. He was released after failing to show up. Later reporting then stated he was expected to retire. The Seahawks need some warm bodies to plug holes along their defensive line, but Gregory has little to offer outside of depth at this point in his career. He totaled 3.5 sacks in 2023 while playing for the Broncos and 49ers.

Gregory was a no-show at Bucs training camp after signing a one-year contract with the team earlier this offseason. The former No. 60 overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft is expected to call it a career after seven NFL seasons in which he totaled 117 tackles and 22 sacks while forcing 10 fumbles. The Buccaneers released Gregory without pay and could look to add another pass rusher in the coming days.

Gregory signed a massive, five-year, $70 million contract with the Broncos ahead of the 2022 season. The move proved to be a catastrophic blunder for Denver and they traded him for a late-round pick swap early in the 2023 season. Gregory appeared in a dozen games for the 49ers as a rotational player, tallying 2.5 sacks and four TFLs in the process. Now 31 years old, signing Gregory is only a depth move for a Tampa Bay team that just lost Shaq Barrett in free agency. They could still look to add more pass-rush talent early in the draft.

Gregory was reportedly cut by the Broncos on Wednesday, but the move was never finalized, allowing Denver to find a trade partner for EDGE defender. The move allowed San Francisco to jump the line in contract talks with Gregory, who would have likely received multiple offers as a free agent. Though the details of the trade have yet to be announced, the Broncos likely took on a hefty portion of Gregory’s remaining contract to facilitate the move. Signed to a five-year, $70 million deal in Denver last year, Gregory amassed just three sacks across 10 games with his new team. He will look to revitalize his career on one of the best defenses in football with the 49ers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Broncos “want to focus on younger players,” which could mean they’re tanking for Caleb Williams. Gregory, who signed a five-year, $70 million deal with Denver in 2022, played ten games for the Broncos and recorded three sacks and 21 tackles. Gregory’s deal with Denver will go down as one of the worst in league history — not a surprise considering the Broncos’ decision making over the past decade. Gregory, 30, will surely land elsewhere in short order.

Gregory’s season ends with just 10 total tackles and two sacks through six games played, which is microcosm of the Broncos’ season. The move to injured reserve marks the 21st such transaction this season for Denver in what will go down as one of the more disappointing seasons in NFL history.

The NFL also suspended Rams OL Oday Aboushi for one game for his role in the incident. Following their Week 16 loss to the Rams, Gregory swung at Aboushi, who swung back at Gregory. Gregory dealt with knee soreness heading into Week 16, and it’s quite possible he will be shut down for the rest of the season. Gregory signed a five-year deal with the Broncos in the offseason and will return in 2023. He’ll look to improve on an injury-plagued season in which he has only played six games and recorded two sacks.

Gregory did not practice all week with what Nathaniel Hackett has called “knee soreness.” Gregory had arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this season. With the Broncos going nowhere, they could certainly decide to shut Gregory down for the season. Gregory has two sacks in five games and played only 23 snaps last week in his return from the injured list.

The high-dollar free agent addition had two sacks in four games before getting injured in Week 4. He ended up requiring arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus. Disappointing as the Broncos have been, they have remained formidable on defense, and Gregory will be a difference-making addition for the final four weeks. The Broncos are strong Week 15 streamers against Colt McCoy’s Cardinals.

The 21-day clock for Gregory has officially been activated. Whether or not he’ll return for the Broncos -- who have already been eliminated from playoff contention -- remains up in the air. Gregory has been sidelined since October 4th after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and had 11 QB hurries and two sacks through four games this season. Right tackle Billy Turner (knee) was also designated for return on Wednesday.