Broncos Sign Shane Ray

The Denver Broncos have officially signed their first round pick, defensive end Shane Ray. The Broncos selected Ray with the 23rd pick in the draft last April out of Missouri. The Broncos came to terms with Ray on a 4-year, $9.116 million dollar contract. Since he was a first round pick, the Broncos carry a team option on his fifth year of the deal.

Last season at Missouri, Ray was a menace to offenses across the nation. He recorded 47 tackles, and an astonishing 14.5 sacks. He quickly drew the attention of college football, and soon NFL scouts were drawn to him. Ray led the Tigers to the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, where they defeated a talented Minnesota team, 33-17. Ray was also the recipient of the SEC Defensive Player of the year award. He was destined to be a top ten pick in this years draft, but his off the field problems became a serious concern for NFL teams.

On the morning of April 27, days before the draft, Ray was cited for marijuana possession, while driving a vehicle. An Officers report said that he was carrying 35 grams of marijuana on him. In addition, he failed to “drive in the right lane of the highway with two or more lanes.”  This encounter with the police broke headlines, and for most NFL teams, put a big red flag next to the name of Shane Ray.

Many NFL teams leaned towards not selecting Ray, due to his drug problems off of the field. He was certainly one of the more controversial selections of the draft, and the Broncos were ready to step up to the plate and draft the talented pass rusher. Ray will fit in nicely with the Broncos, and will help their ailing defensive line. They just lost Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton to the Washington Redskins, and they were in desperate need of a solid pass rusher. Ray will most likely shift around in positions, based on how training camp goes. He can be used as a defensive end; or a linebacker. The Broncos have a steady linebacker core of DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller and Danny Trevathan, so Ray has a stronger possibility of being put as a defensive end. As shown by his 14.5 sacks last year, he should be able to carry over his college dominance and excel at pressuring  the quarterback.

Ray’s signing is very important for both sides of the agreement, as the Broncos get a solid young pass rusher, and Ray now can focus on his play and try and put his past behind him.