Has safety Simmons surpassed OLB Miller as the Broncos’ best defensive player?
Kiz: While Broncos Country is going ga-ga-ga over quarterback Brandon Allen, the best player on the field for Denver in the victory over Cleveland on Sunday was safety Justin Simmons. And, in my book, he made the biggest play of the game in the fourth quarter, coming from the weak side on a blitz to tackle Browns running back Nick Chubb for a 3-yard loss on third-and-1 from the Denver 25-yard line and the Broncos clinging to a five-point lead. It says here Simmons has become the best player on Denver’s defense.
O’Halloran: Simmons’ 53 tackles are tied with inside linebacker Todd Davis for most on the Broncos, and he leads the team in pass breakups (nine) and interceptions (two). Von Miller can still flash, but since Bradley Chubb tore his ACL in September, I’m fine with the title of “Broncos best defensive player” going to Simmons. He has been around the football more this year in coverage and has a good knack for finding creases in the opponent’s blocking scheme to make tackles in the run game. He took a bad angle to miss a tackle on Odell Beckham but otherwise played physically.
Kiz: Simmons picked the perfect time to play the best football of his four-year professional career. He’s set to become a free agent at season’s end. Please tell me why Simmons isn’t already locked on a long-term deal with the Broncos. If general manager John Elway thought safety Kareem Jackson was worth $33 million over three years in free agency, then Simmons has to be valuable, right? Are the Broncos really at risk of losing him? And how lucrative a deal might Simmons attract on the open market?
O’Halloran: There were some talks before the regular season started between the Broncos and Simmons’ camp, and I thought after the salary cap space created by quarterback Joe Flacco’s contract restructuring, that flexibility would be used to extend Simmons. But Simmons told me it was a mutual call to halt talks, admitting he was betting on himself. It has been a good bet. There are eight NFL safeties who have an average salary of $10 million, including Jackson. I would put Simmons in the range of Green Bay’s Adrian Amos (four-year, $36 million deal). Simmons should be a priority re-sign.
Everybody loves cornerback Chris Harris. But not at the expense of Simmons. When the Broncos set their budget for the 2020 season, Simmons must be a higher priority than Harris. Yes, cornerback is a more critical position than safety. But there should be multiple Pro Bowl seasons left in Simmons, who doesn’t turn 26 until later this month. With big expenditures already made on Jackson and Bryce Callahan in the secondary, can Denver realistically afford both Simmons and Harris?
O’Halloran: It will take some finesse, but the Broncos can find room for Jackson, Callahan, Simmons and Harris under next year’s cap. Callahan hasn’t played yet in 2019, but he would cost more than $6 million in “dead” space if he’s cut, so they might as well keep him. Working in the favor of Harris and Simmons, the Broncos shouldn’t be in the business of letting good players walk. They need to keep the precious few standouts they have. That gives Harris and Simmons leverage.