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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- **With their first signing of the 2014 free agency period, the Broncos made a splash in the defensive secondary.
Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward agreed to terms with the team on Tuesday.
"We are excited to add T.J. Ward to the Denver Broncos," Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway said. "He's a young, explosive strong safety who is going to bring a lot of energy and toughness to our secondary."
The fifth-year defender started all 54 games he played in his first four NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Ward has accumulated 340 tackles, five interceptions, 3.5 sacks, 26 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two defensive touchdowns.
The former second-round pick set a career high for tackles in 2013, earning second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press and his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He was also voted by his teammates as the Browns' recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award after bouncing back from a knee injury late in the 2012 season to start all 16 games last year.
ProFootballFocus.com lists Ward as the top-ranked safety against the run and the third-best safety in the league overall.
Just before the free agency period opened, the Broncos agreed to terms to re-sign wide receiver Andre Caldwell.
