Washington has signed free agent safety David Bruton after hosting him for a visit, the team announced today via a press release. Per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), Bruton will get a three-year deal worth $9MM, with another $1.5MM available via incentives.
Bruton, 28, had spent the first seven years of his NFL career in Denver, playing a key role for the Broncos team that won the Super Bowl last month. A special-teamer and a backup for most of his career, Bruton saw more action on defense in 2015 due to injuries, and set career highs in several categories, including tackles (43), interceptions (two), and passes defended (seven).
While Bruton figures to continue contributing on special teams in Washington, he may also got the opportunity to compete for a starting job. The club is somewhat thin at the position, having recently released Dashon Goldson.
Bruton is the latest free agency departure for the Broncos, who have lost higher-profile players like Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, and Danny Trevathan. Although Bruton wasn’t a top-50 free agent like those players, he earned a spot on our list of the top free agent safeties available this offseason, ranking 12th.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
This will be the second time in three years Washington has taken a flier on a Broncos backup or short-term starter, after doing so with Duke Ihenacho in 2014. Bruton, however, has been a much more reliable player than Ihenacho in Denver, showing well in starts for an injured or suspended T.J. Ward. Bruton should be able to carve out a spot for himself in Washington’s safety stable, but if nothing else, he’s been a quality special-teamer for years.