Will safety Justin Simmons sign a long-term deal by July 15 deadline?
Q: Hi Ryan: Where do the Broncos stand on signing safety Justin Simmons to a long-term deal?
— Brandon Brown, Rogers, Minn.
Ryan: As of Wednesday night, Simmons was one of five players who hadn’t signed their franchise tender, joining Tampa Bay outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green, Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones and Jacksonville defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. Nine players have signed their franchise tenders, which guarantees their 2020 salary, which will be $11.45 million for Simmons.
Will Simmons be present when the Broncos open camp in four weeks? Yes, because I expect him to sign his tender if a long-term deal isn’t reached by the July 15 deadline.
Here’s the rub in this coronavirus climate: Teams aren’t exactly handing out long-term contracts that include large signing bonuses to be paid out upon signing. I think there’s a much higher probability of Simmons playing 2020 on a franchise tag than signing a multi-year deal … unless, he takes a little below-market deal because of his affection for Denver.
Q: If Netane Muti is healthy and Ja’Wuan James isn’t, could you see the team moving Dalton Risner to right tackle (he played there in college) and starting Muti at left guard?
— Calvin Green, Aurora
Ryan: Not this year for five reasons:
1. The Broncos have Elijah Wilkinson, an experienced swing tackle, and he could take over for James like he did last year, playing 845 of 1,025 snaps.
2. Last year, the Broncos felt Risner’s presence at left guard helped left tackle Garett Bolles and they should strive for continuity on Drew Lock’s blind-side.
3. Keeping Risner at left guard, combined with veteran right guard Graham Glasgow, will allow the Broncos to start rookie Lloyd Cushenberry at center instead of having two rookies up front.
4. Muti isn’t a picture of perfect health as foot and Achilles injuries limited him to five games in 2018-19 for Fresno State. The Broncos may view 2020 as a combination of a redshirt year/get him practice reps along the entire offensive line.
5. And offensive line coaches are usually loathe to create one lineup hole while trying to fill another and moving Risner to right tackle would qualify as such a move.
Q: Do you see this as a bounce-back year for Von Miller? He came on strong at the end of last season (four sacks in the last six games) and gets his running mate back in Bradley Chubb and a new force in the middle with Jurrell Casey. Will offenses curb their double teams and unleash the Vonster?
— Michael Reyes, Denver
Ryan: Thirty-two players had more sacks than Miller’s eight last year, which meant he was named to his eighth Pro Bowl largely (if not entirely) on his reputation. In Miller’s first seven years in which he played a full season, he averaged 13.3 sacks, so last year represented a dropoff.
The question is, was 2019 the beginning of a new phase for Miller or just a blip on the radar and he’s ready to return to form in his age-31 season? I’ll say the return of Chubb and acquisition of Casey helps put Miller back in double-digit territory.
Last year, I charted Miller with 41 passrush “disruptions” (eight sacks, 13 knockdowns and 20 pressures) so he was around the quarterback. The key will be starting faster. In 2019, he had only 2 ½ sacks in the first seven games (2-5 record).