FA safety Simmons gets franchise tag
Three weeks after Broncos general manager John Elway said his intention was to use the franchise tag on safety Justin Simmons, the team made the move official Friday.
Simmons, 26, was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent starting Wednesday.
“We remain focused on reaching a long-term contract agreement with Justin, and he’s a big priority for us,” Elway said in a statement released by the team. “This is a placeholder in that process and our goal is the same — to make sure that Justin is a Bronco for a long time.”
The deadline for tagged players to sign a long-term contract is July 15.
Based on a potential $200 million salary cap, Simmons’ tag could be worth about $11.5 million. The cap won’t be announced until next week. The franchise tag salary is the average salary of the top five at that player’s position the previous year.
Simmons, a fourth-round pick from Boston College in 2016, has played every defensive snap the past two seasons. In 2019, he led the Broncos with four interceptions and was tied for second with 93 tackles and was named second-team all-pro.
“We like smart safeties, guys that can tackle and guys that enjoy playing the game from the cerebral side as a safety, and he does that,” coach Vic Fangio said at last month’s scouting combine. “He’s a good fit for us.”
A team would have to give the Broncos two
first-round picks if they sign Simmons to an offer sheet. The franchise tag salary is fully guaranteed upon signing. Simmons could sign the tag and participate in the Broncos’ offseason program while his camp and the team attempt to work out a contract. If he doesn’t sign the tag, he is ineligible to take part in any team activity.
Simmons is the fifth player to be franchise tagged by the Broncos since Elway returned to the team in 2011: kicker Matt Prater (2012), offensive tackle Ryan Clady (2013), receiver Demaryius Thomas (2015) and outside linebacker Von Miller (2016).
All signed long-term contracts to remain with the team, but not quickly. Prater (four years, $13 million) signed on July 2, Clady (five years, $52 million) on July 14 and Thomas (five years, $70 million) and Miller (six years, $114.5 million) both on the July 15 deadline.
“Anytime that’s been used, long-term deals have been done,” Simmons said after the season. “It’s no shocker; that I want to say. I love the defense. It works for me. I think I make it work just as well.”
Using the tag on Simmons is the Broncos’ second big move this month; they have a deal in place to acquire Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye for a fourth-round pick. That trade will be officially completed Wednesday.
Bouye will count $13.4 million on this year’s cap, according to Sportrac. Counting Simmons’ $11.5 million, it would leave the Broncos with about $42 million in cap space heading into free agency next week.
exercised. The Broncos officially picked up the 2020 contract options for outside linebacker Miller, kicker Brandon McManus and inside linebacker Todd Davis and declined the option on right guard Ron Leary, making him a free agent.
Elway previously said Miller, McManus and Davis would have their options picked up. It guarantees $6 million of Miller’s salary, $1 million for McManus and $500,000 for Davis.