Broncos free agency: Tracking every move in George Paton’s first year

1. Justin Simmons signs record-breaking contract

The ultimate decision to sign safety Justin Simmons to a long-term contract has always been an absolute no-brainer on paper.

The Broncos posted a graphic of Simmons’ “resumé” up to this point, and it speaks volumes.

Since he was a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Simmons has been one of the Broncos’ best and most consistent players on either side of the ball. As the graphic states, he has played over 3,200 consecutive snaps, more than any other active defensive player.

This guy doesn’t come off the field because he has made his presence non-negotiable.

John Elway franchise-tagged Simmons in the 2020 offseason, but for whatever the reason or reasons, Simmons became the first and only player in Elway’s tenure who was franchise tagged and not signed to a long-term deal before the following deadline to do so.

George Paton gave Simmons the tag as well, but this time, he followed it up by throwing away the tag and giving Simmons the bag. As in, he made Simmons the highest-paid safety in NFL history at $15.25 million per season on a four-year deal.

Simmons received $61 million in total money over the course of a four-year deal with $35 million in guarantees.

Rewarding Simmons with a long-term contract was a huge move not only for the team on the field but for players who have been drafted in the last three or four years by the Broncos who are coming up with their rookie contracts.

Simmons is now the example — if you do everything right, you will be taken care of.