No long-term deal; Simmons will play on franchise tag
For the first time since John Elway became the Broncos’ general manager in 2011, the team will have a player working under the franchise tag.
The Broncos and safety Justin Simmons were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract by Wednesday’s 2 p.m. deadline, meaning Simmons will play this year under the $11.441 million tag, which he signed Tuesday.
The first four times Elway used the tag, the Broncos were able to secure long-term deals with kicker Matt Prater (2012), left tackle Ryan Clady (2013), receiver Demaryius Thomas (2015) and outside linebacker Von Miller (2016).
Simmons, a second-team AllPro last year who hasn’t missed a defensive snap in two seasons, will be eligible for free agency in March 2021 unless the Broncos choose to tag him again.
Simmons was one of 14 players placed under the franchise tag in March. As of Tuesday, only one (Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones) had agreed to a long-term contract.
Simmons will have the NFL’s fifth-highest cap number for a safety this year behind Kansas City’s Tyrann Mathieu ($16.3 million), Baltimore’s Earl Thomas ($15 million), Washington’s Landon Collins ($14.2 million) and the Broncos’ Kareem Jackson ($13.8 million).
The Broncos’ best defensive player last year (93 tackles and a team-high four interceptions), Simmons quickly developed into a key cog in coach Vic Fangio’s defense.
“He’s definitely one of those guys who’s the heart and soul of our defense,” Jackson said earlier this offseason. “He’s a leader and he’s great in the locker room.”
A third-round pick out of Boston College in 2016, Simmons became a full-time starter in 2017 and has totaled 277 tackles and 11 interceptions in 58 games (48 starts).