The Denver Broncos acquired defensive end/outside linebacker Stephen Weatherly and a 2023 seventh-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round pick, according to sources. It's basically just a salary dump, as Weatherly has averaged only nine snaps in the last four weeks, falling behind Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen and D.J. Wonnum in a rotation at defensive end in Minnesota. The Vikings will get out of the remainder of Weatherly's $1.5 million base salary. In Denver, Bradley Chubb (ankle) remains on Injured Reserve, and Von Miller also suffered an ankle injury in the Thursday night loss to the Cleveland Browns. Weatherly won't be a difference-maker, but he can provide some pass-rushing depth in case Miller misses some time.
The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive end Stephen Weatherly to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, the pass-rusher announced on his Instagram. Weatherly was cut by the Carolina Panthers earlier this year after just one season with the team. He put up six sacks in four seasons with Minnesota from 2016-19. Weatherly was a seventh-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2016 and signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with Carolina in free agency last season. Only cornerback Mackensie Alexander has more NFL starts from the team's 2016 draft class than Weatherly. Weatherly had no sacks as a starter in Carolina in 2020, which is a big reason why they cut him entering this season.
