The Denver Broncos will not be giving safety Justin Simmons a long-term contract extension this year.
Denver placed a one-year, $11.441 million franchise tag on Simmons earlier this offseason. The two sides had until 2 p.m. MT on Wednesday to reach a long-term deal. With the deadline now passed, Simmons will play on his tag this year and the Broncos will not be allowed to give him an extension during the season. After his tag expires, Simmons will be scheduled to become a free agent in 2021.
Simmons has an estimated market value of $14,439,489, according to a projection from Spotrac.com. Denver made Simmons an offer that would have put him “among the top tier safeties,” according to NFL Network’s James Palmer.
Simmons is taking a risk and hoping that he will have more negotiating power for a better contract in 2021 than what the Broncos offered this year.
Simmons was selected by Denver in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Boston College. Over the last four seasons, Simmons has totaled 275 tackles, two sacks, 28 pass breakups and 11 interceptions (including one interception returned for a touchdown).
Playing under coach Vic Fangio last season, Simmons had career highs in interceptions (four) and pass breakups (15). He’ll turn 27 in November.
