Casey “super motivated” to be centerpiece of Denver defense
Jurrell Casey doesn’t watch a whole lot of football. But the defensive tackle knows enough to realize he’s headed to one of the NFL’s more storied franchises, and that he’ll be playing alongside a couple of the best linebackers in the league.
“I’m excited to be here and ready to get it done,” Casey said Thursday as he was officially introduced as the newest Bronco. “I don’t watch too much sports, but I know the Broncos have won plenty of Super Bowls, and that Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are some great pass rushers over there the last couple years.”
The Broncos and the Titans agreed to the trade Wednesday, with Denver sending one of its three seventh-round picks (No. 237) to Tennessee for the fivetime Pro Bowler.
Casey, 30, is a USC product who has started 137 games over his nine NFL seasons. He’s never played less than 14 games in a year, while accumulating 493 total tackles and 51 sacks. The veteran believes playing with Miller and Chubb will only up his game.
“To see how those guys play, the effort that they give every game, the tenacity they play with… What else can a guy like me want?” Casey said. “These are guys who can pass-rush and get into the gaps to the quarterback, making the job a lot easier for me.”
Per Over The Cap, Casey will make $11.8 million in salary this year, $12.2 million in 2021 and $13.8 million in 2022. However, the Broncos have the option of cutting Casey after 2020 without absorbing any dead money.
Casey’s arrival in Denver is the first part of what’s sure to be a new-look defensive line. While the Broncos tendered nose tackle Mike Purcell on Wednesday, defensive ends Derek Wolfe and
Shelby Harris are likely to depart in free agency. Casey said his trade from Jacksonville was “definitely a shocker, but it’s part of the business.”
“(The trade) makes me super motivated,” Casey said. “(My personal focus) is on getting to the quarterback, making sure I’m stopping the run, making the game easier for our defensive backs, making sure we’re getting turnovers to help out the offense… If we do all that, the playoffs will take care of themselves.”