Justin Simmons open to playing on the franchise tag with Denver

Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons is open to playing the 2020 season on the franchise tag, but the team should not let it come to that.

Since John Elway has been the general manager of the Denver Broncos, the team has only used the franchise tag a few times. Will he use it in 2020 on Justin Simmons?

In 2012, Elway used the franchise tag for the first time on kicker Matt Prater before signing him to a long-term contract.

In 2013, the Broncos placed the franchise tag on offensive tackle Ryan Clady before eventually signing him to a long-term deal.

In 2015, Elway placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who also signed a long-term deal with the team.

In 2016, Von Miller got the franchise tag after he won Super Bowl 50 MVP, and then he got a huge contract from the Broncos.

Although the Broncos have not used the franchise tag since that time (they have not really had a need) it’s very possible they could use it again in 2020 on the budding star safety Justin Simmons, a second-team All-Pro selection after a career-year in 2019.

Simmons had 93 total tackles, a career-high four interceptions, and a career-high 15 pass breakups. It was a prosperous season for Simmons at the perfect time. He got into Vic Fangio’s defense with his free agent value hanging in the balance, and bet on himself that he could become one of the top safeties in the NFL.

He was right.

Simmons says he’s open to playing on the franchise tag, but also understands his value to this Denver defense.

https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala/status/1222375276228694016

Let’s make something very clear — the franchise tag doesn’t get handed out by John Elway without a long-term deal in mind.

I think it’s notable that Simmons says he would play on the franchise tag as there are other players who have declined to play on it, which is understandable, but the franchise tag would be a substantial pay raise for Simmons and it would almost be foolish of him not to play on it given there could be a lockout next year for a bit.

At the same time, the end goal for Simmons and the Broncos has to be a long-term deal. What reason could there possibly be not to give him a long-term deal and make him one of the highest paid safeties in the game?

The Broncos have no other players in their 20s that they have drafted in the last five years that have been worthy of a new contract this big. Quite literally, the Broncos have not drafted a player worthy of re-setting their position’s market since Von Miller.

That is, until they drafted Justin Simmons.

It’s not so much that Simmons is a transcendental talent as he is the picture of the kind of player you want to give a big-money deal to.

He plays literally every down. He’s improved every year and is coming off the best year of his career. He’s in his mid-20s. He’s an outstanding human being who is actively involved in the community. As a matter of fact, he’s the Broncos’ Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate.

Simmons is everything you look for in a guy to build your team around.

So pay that man his money.