Justin Simmons deserved to be an All-Pro for the second straight year.
Despite finishing the season 5-11, the Denver Broncos can look at the positives that happened this 2020 season. The AP (Associated Press) voted on the All-Pro team for 2020 and one of them being a member of the Broncos.
After a spectacular season, left tackle Garett Bolles gets the nod to be selected as second team All-Pro, representing Denver in this year’s team.
Another player that had a great season was star safety, Justin Simmons. He played 100% of the defensive snaps and ended his great year vs the Raiders with an INT and two passes defended. Simmons was selected for the Pro Bowl this year, alongside star pass rusher Bradley Chubb but was not voted as All-Pro. Other safeties that were picked ahead of him were Bengals safety Jessie Bates, Seahawks Jamal Adams, Budda Baker from the Cardinals, Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick and Chiefs star safety Tyrann Mathieu.
Bolles named second team All-Pro
The Denver Broncos agreed to a contract extension with their new All-Pro left tackle, Garett Bolles. This extension retains him in Denver through 2024 and makes him the the fourth highest paid left tackle in the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bolles allowed zero sacks while playing over 1,000 snaps this year. He was significantly better with receiving penalties, as he was called for seven of them. Last year, he was second in the league with 17.
Even though he was snubbed out of a Pro Bowl selection, Bolles earned his selection to be an All-Pro this year, only behind first team All-Pro, Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari.
Justin Simmons getting snubbed is a joke
Simmons led all defensive players for Denver playing 100% of the snaps and getting a career high in interceptions (5) and solo tackles (77). The defensive star earned his first Pro Bowl selection in this years 2021 team, including OLB Bradley Chubb.
Five safeties were chosen for the All-Pro teams, two of them including Bengals safety Jessie Bates and Seahawks star safety Jamal Adams who made the second team. Everyone can make a legit argument that Simmons was deserving of a second team All-Pro selection. He had more interceptions compared to both and more passes defended than Jamal Adams.
Simmons was playing on a contract year and absolutely played lights out. He played on a franchise tag this season as both sides could not agree to an extension earlier in the year. In March, Simmons becomes a restricted free agent.
One of the many tasks the new general manager will face is the decision to negotiate with Simmons and keep him in Denver. I think I speak for many Broncos fans when I say, I would love to have Justin Simmons return on a long-term contract he definitely deserves.