Terrance Knighton, a nose tackle who spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, has agreed to the terms of a contract with the Washington Redskins.
The 6-foot-3, 331-pound Knighton agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal on Thursday night, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Knighton was at Redskins Park on Friday to sign his new contract. The agreement was first reported by ESPN.
In Washington, the player known as “Pot Roast” will be reunited with defensive tackle Chris Baker, one of his closest friends. The two grew up together in Windsor, Connecticut, and Knighton will be the best man in Baker’s wedding this weekend.
“#PotRoast2DC it’s real the deal is done,” Baker posted on Twitter on Thursday. “#SWAGGYTIME reunited wit my dawg it’s going down #860 #HTTR”
Knighton started all but three games during his first three seasons with the Jaguars, who drafted him out of Temple in the third round in 2009, then served as a rotational lineman during his fourth season.
He left the Jaguars after that season, joining his former coach, Jack Del Rio, who had become the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.
SEE ALSO: DL Stephen Paea signs as free agent with Washington Redskins
Knighton’s acquisition should allow the Redskins to move Baker, who took over as the team’s top nose tackle midway through 2014, to defensive end or a reserve role.
Knighton visited Washington on Wednesday. He had also drawn interest from the Oakland Raiders, who named Del Rio their coach in January, as well as the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens, according to various reports.
Knighton’s acquisition will likely be the last along the defensive line for the Redskins, who have significantly retooled their front in recent weeks. The team signed Stephen Paea, formerly of the Chicago Bears, on Tuesday and appear poised to have him start at defensive end.
They also signed defensive end Ricky Jean Francois, who was released by the Indianapolis Colts, late last month, the day before they released nose tackle Barry Cofield and defensive end Stephen Bowen, two players who had been starters for the better part of the last three seasons.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.