Denver Broncos: 4 positions the team must address in 2021.
The Denver Broncos have one of the most talented young rosters in the NFL, but injuries and difficult learning experiences have put somewhat of a “cap” on the excitement in 2020.
John Elway has some interesting decisions to make over the course of the next three months as he prepares this team for what will hopefully be a much healthier, more successful campaign in 2021.
At this point in time, it truly appears as though the Broncos will prepare to “run it back” with the current roster and the majority of players returning. We will see how Elway, Fangio, and the rest of the front office evaluate this roster once the season is complete, but if the Broncos could get mostly healthy, this is a roster that should be competitive enough for one out of seven playoff spots.
With that said, improvements should be pursued every offseason. What are some position groups Elway and company need to address in 2021?
Let’s take a look at four of them.
4. Safety
Justin Simmons is a free agent after the 2020 season. Since being selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Simmons has truly been one of the best players for the Denver Broncos on and off the field.
Simmons has quietly picked off 15 passes in five NFL seasons and has finally, in year five, been recognized for the Pro Bowl.
In order to re-sign Simmons to a long-term deal, the Broncos may not be able to keep Simmons’ running mate at safety, Kareem Jackson. The Broncos could cut Jackson and save $10 million against the 2021 salary cap, though it’s not certain where they will make budget cuts.
Jackson has made some impressive hits this season for the Broncos, but the team may seek more turnover production from the safety running with Simmons, should they re-sign him.
The only issue with cutting Jackson to save cap space is that the Broncos don’t have anyone to replace him, except for potentially Will Parks who has played more nickel in Vic Fangio’s defense than safety lately.
The one reason to think letting go of Jackson and making safety a free agent priority is a realistic possibility? This year’s free agent safety class is loaded.