Purcell’s perseverance pays off with contract extension
Local product has found home in middle of Broncos’ defensive line
ENGLEWOOD — Since coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013, six teams told Mike Purcell he wasn’t good enough. The defensive lineman was cut 10 times before landing in Denver last April.
At that point, the Broncos took a flier on the former Highlands Ranch High School/wyoming star as an extra training camp body.
On Tuesday, Purcell’s true value — already seen on film and in the stat sheet since he took over the nose tackle job in Week 5 a year ago — materialized in the form of a three-year, $14.8 million contract extension that will keep him in Denver through 2023. That deal includes $6.8 million guaranteed.
Afterward, the humble Purcell reflected on the “upand-down” road that led him to a big payday with his hometown team.
“There’s been multiple times when I thought about hanging it up or maybe that was time to move on and start a real career,” Purcell said. “That year in general (in 2017), being on six different teams in one calendar season, it was a lot. And my wife was pregnant with our daughter at the time… That whole year kind of hurt, but
I kept pushing. If I didn’t keep pushing, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Purcell’s contract is the culmination of the 328pounder’s persistence, especially throughout a demanding 2019 in which he played 26 games: eight with the Salt Lake Stallions in the Alliance of American Football, five during a prove-it preseason to make Denver’s roster, and then 13 regularseason appearances, including seven starts.
The Broncos’ top run defender in 2019, Purcell led the team with 20.5 run “stuffs” (gains or one yard or fewer) despite playing less than half of the total snaps, and finished with 48 tackles (28 solo). That led to the Broncos placing a second-round tender on Purcell for $3.25 million in March.
His play through the first quarter of 2020 has further solidified the front office’s confidence in him, as well as that of his teammates.
“When people prepare for us, they see him, and they know they’re going to have to stay on the double-team block longer on him,” inside linebacker Josey Jewell said. “When they have to double longer on him, it means a late release to us, which means they aren’t getting into the second level as quick. We love big guys up front like that who can manhandle some people and keep the blockers off the second level.”
This season, Purcell has three run “stuffs” along with a sack, 13 tackles and two tackles for loss. He’s been a key component of the defensive front alongside defensive end Shelby Harris, who is due to be a free agent after this season. Since Purcell took over the nose tackle job last year in a victory at the Chargers, the Broncos have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league (101.4).