Denver Broncos: Players who could be playing final season with team

Justin Simmons

The 2020 season could be the last in Denver for Justin Simmons, but I would not expect that to happen.

He is technically going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but the team could put all of that to rest by signing Simmons to a long-term extension by the deadline of July 15.

Simmons has yet to sign his franchise tag, the one Denver gave him in March to prevent him from hitting the free-agent market then. As soon as he signs it, he will receive $11.4 guaranteed for one season.

That gives you an idea of the kind of money he will command as soon as a long-term deal is reached, but fans should have confidence that a deal will get done based on John Elway‘s history with the franchise tag.

Players such as Demaryius Thomas and Von Miller have gotten these kind of long-term deals (both the right moves at the time), and giving that kind of contract to Simmons would also be the right move.

Simmons has emerged as one of the best safeties in the NFL and can follow in the historical footsteps of great Denver safeties such as Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith by playing all (or at least the vast majority) of his career there.