The Denver Broncos signed defensive end Derek Wolfe to a four-year contract extension through the 2019 season, the team announced Friday.
Wolfe, 25, became a priority with a breakout season. Terms of the deal were not announced, but the extension is reportedly worth $36.7 million.
“Derek is a very talented and hard-working player who has improved every season since we drafted him in 2012,” executive vice president of football operations and general manager John Elway said in a statement. “This year, Derek’s developed into one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in football. We’re excited to reward one of our key emerging players and ensure that Derek is part of our team for many more seasons.”
Wolfe, who was selected by the Broncos in the second round (36th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati, has started all 55 regular-season games played as well as both playoff contests.
Wolfe missed the first month of this season after serving a four-game ban for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Wolfe said at the time that he took a medication in the offseason that did not boost performance in any way and claimed he was unaware it was on the NFL’s banned substances list.
In 12 games played during the 2015 regular season, Wolfe finished the season ranked as the No. 4 overall player at his position, according to Pro Football Focus. He trailed only unanimous first-team All-Pro J.J. Watt in Pro Football Focus’ run defense metrics while leading all Broncos defensive lineman with 49 tackles (35 solo).
Wolfe also finished the 2015 regular season with 5.5 sacks to go along with a team-best nine tackles for loss and one pass defensed.
Wolfe has totaled 140 tackles, 17 sacks, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery during his four-year NFL career.