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The Denver Broncos are in talks to sign free safety Justin Simmons to a 4-year, $61 million contract, per Benjamin Allbright of KOA NewsRadio 850 AM & 94.1 FM. $35 million of this pact is guaranteed.
Breaking:
Per source: #Broncos are getting close to re-signing safety Justin Simmons, not done yet but will be.
4-year, $61 million dollar deal with $35 million in guarantees.
Long time coming for All-Pro/Pro Bowler.@KOAColorado @jsimms1119
(Broncos aren't done, either) pic.twitter.com/aQJ07fXEkd
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 19, 2021
The money involved is huge, but the deal makes sense for both parties involved. Simmons was one of the most sought-after free agents in the market. At 27-years old, he has plenty of elite football left in him. He is an All-Pro safety that would instantly transform any secondary and the Broncos needed to bring him back.
Simmons has come a long way from being a third-round pick in the 2016 draft. He was a steady contributor as soon as he entered the league, but his performance had a huge jump in 2019 when he recorded 15 passes defended and four picks. Simmons has regressed a bit since then but his form last season was enough for a Pro Bowl nod.
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Like any elite free safety, he possesses great coverage skills and displayed good instincts. What sets him apart though is that he is a force in the run game. He had a ridiculous 94 total tackles in his Pro Bowl campaign for the Broncos. It helps that he is larger than most in his position as he stands at 6'2 and weighs in at 202 pounds.
When the Broncos won it all in 2015 with the stellar play of Von Miller, a big part of the defense was their safety, T. J. Ward. Ward was a strong safety, but Simmons could be that valuable and more. While Denver is not considered a contender, getting Simmons in the fold for years to come is a step in the right direction.
