Clayton: The Broncos add a versatile, selfless player to their defense

The Broncos signed defensive tackle Shamar Stephen this week and introduced him to the media Wednesday with a press conference. This was a good signing at is expected to be at a cheap price.

I watched him during the 2018 season when he was a Seattle Seahawks. He’s a good player, a good run-stopper and a good player in the locker room. He’s not the most outspoken person, but he gets the job done on the field.

He’s 6-5, 309 pounds and he is dependable. He’s dependable enough that the Minnesota Vikings brought him back after his Seahawks contract expired after the 2018 season.

The Vikings were deep at defensive tackle for years. It took three years for Stephen to break into the starting lineup. He started 16 games in 2017, but in a lot of ways, he shared the defensive tackle position. Linval Joseph was the star defensive tackle. Stephen shared the other defensive tackle position with Tom Johnson.

Stephen started only one game in 2017, but he never complained. In the past three years, he started 45 of 48 games.

Where he will help the Broncos is that he can play defensive end in the 3-4. If necessary, he could play the nose. He’s versatile.

To get a player this late in free agency, it’s a good deal. This is particularly good in a year in which the draft isn’t offering a lot at the defensive tackle position.