ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Whenever you can sign a player to a position of need while said player is visiting another team, your organization must be doing something right.
Over the course of the offseason, the Denver Broncos signed a plethora of players to help secure both the offensive and defensive lines, all trying to get back into championship form after a disappointing 9-7 season. The offensive line was taken care of early with the signings of guard Ronald Leary and tackle Menelik Watson and the defensive line was not far behind.
Denver would have to wait until the 14th of March to sign defensive end Zach Kerr to a two-year deal that will keep him in the place he wanted to call home all along.
“It was pretty much a no-brainer when my team got the call from the Broncos saying they wanted to work a deal out,” Kerr stated at Dove Valley. “As soon as I had been—actually, I was in Detroit when I got the call. I actually really liked Detroit, but as soon as I got the offer from Denver, I said, ‘Yup, let’s go.’ It’s a great defense; it’s been a great defense.”
“You would be a fool not to want to play here.”
It was not only his sheer will to want to represent the orange and blue, it was his ability that he believes made him a prime offseason target for John Elway and Company.
“I guess they brought me here to beef up the run defense and rush the passer and make plays, use my versatility and stuff like that,” Kerr said. “I’m here to help. Whatever role they want me to play in the defense, I’m here to play.”
“I’m not a picky guy as far as being a football player. I was blessed with versatility, so whatever they want me to be, nose, three, four-technique, five-technique, I’m here to help.”
With the money in place and Kerr signed to the team of his choosing, he went to work on what he called “the most intense defense that I’ve been around” and saw the likes of veteran Derek Wolfe and rookie DeMarcus Walker, both fighting for the same position. Kerr, being the veteran he is, singled out Walker and had nothing but praise for the young second-round pick.
“He’s quick, really quick. Quick twitch. Really good at rushing the passer. He knows his stuff. I like him a lot,” Kerr added. “He’s one of those guys—he’s a rookie that comes in and you can tell he’s ready to work. He’s ready to learn. He’s going to continue to get better. I like him a lot. He’s a really good player.”
Kerr, a four-year veteran weighing in at 334 pounds, will help anchor a line that ranked 28th against the run in 2016 — giving up 130.3 yards per game.
