The Denver Broncos entered training camp this summer with a safety position that looked like it could be one of the stronger groups on the roster. Now, just two weeks into the regular season, it is looking like a massive problem.
The team has already lost Caden Sterns for the year after P.J. Locke started on injured reserve. Kareem Jackson is older and slower and was recently ejected for an egregious hit against Logan Thomas of the Washington Commanders.
Justin Simmons, Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner are the only other safeties on the roster. Skinner was a healthy scratch in Week 2 and deemed not ready to see a ton of snaps by most, but now it appears that Simmons could be dealing with something as well.
The Broncos could soon have a gaping hole at the safety position that must be addressed. There won't be many options at this stage of the game and for a team that is likely going to need as much as it can get to rebuild properly, you won't hear me advocating for many trades to be made at this point.
But, with teams around the league now allowed to carry 16 players on their practice squads, there could be options, at least to fill in as depth for a few games. The Broncos are a team that likes to go hunting off of other teams' practice squads. Last year, they took Tyler Badie from the Baltimore Ravens and earlier this week, the team nabbed pass-rusher Ronnie Perkins off the New England Patriots' practice squad.
The Broncos have Devon Key on their practice squad currently but better, more experienced help could be necessary.
The team should think about possibly bringing in one of these players, most of whom would be poached from an NFL team's practice squad.
Ronnie Harrison, Indianapolis Colts
Ronnie Harrison was a third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 and he has played in 67 career games and has over 200 career tackles. He has played for the Jaguars and then had a pretty solid stint with the Cleveland Browns.
He can be a physical, hard hitter but has the ability to play the ball as well. He is currently on the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts and the Broncos could bring him aboard to the active roster, as they could do with any player on this list, at least until they have their full stable back.
Harrison is still just 26 years old and he played in 16 games for the Browns last season. The Colts just brought him aboard in mid-August, so they could still be trying to work him in, but the Broncos could interrupt that process and give him a shot.
Duron Harmon, Baltimore Ravens
The most experienced and decorated player on this list, 32-year old Duron Harmon is currently sitting on the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens after they just signed him about a week ago. The Broncos took Badie from the Ravens last year and would likely really ruffle their feathers if they swooped in on Harmon.
But Harmon, from a veteran perspective, makes sense.
He spent seven years with the New England Patriots, being a part of three Super-Bowl winning teams in that time. In each of the last three seasons, he has been with a different team, starting with the Detroit Lions, then the Atlanta Falcons and last season, he was with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Harmon has over 400 career tackles to go with 23 interceptions. He has played in 161 games. If Simmons was forced to miss time with this nagging groin injury, a trusted veteran like Harmon could come in quite nicely.
Dean Marlowe, Los Angeles Chargers
Despite going undrafted out of James Madison in 2015, Dean Marlowe has turned in a solid NFL career. He has played for the Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons while also having two stints with the Buffalo Bills.
He spent four seasons with the Bills from 2017-2020 before being traded from the Falcons to the Bills last season.
Marlowe was released by the Bills just prior to the start of this season and then signed by the Los Angeles Chargers, where he is currently on their practice squad.
In this scenario, the Broncos could get an experienced safety while also taking a player from their division rival.
Eric Rowe, Free Agent
As of Tuesday, Eric Rowe is a current free agent. He was cut by the Carolina Panthers and is now free to sign with any team. He could make sense for the Broncos due to their currently-depleted safety room.
Once upon a time (in 2015), Rowe was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles out of Utah. He played for one season with the Eagles before being dealt to the Patriots. After three seasons there, he signed with the Miami Dolphins and was there from 2019-2022.
In Miami, he began to play safety after starting his career as a cornerback.
He signed with the Panthers this spring but did not make the team's 53-man roster. He was signed to the practice squad but the Panthers have now let him go from there.
He will be 31 years old in a couple of weeks, so he has likely lost a step from the days where he was the No. 47 overall pick in the draft. But his experience with a championship organization combined with his ability to play in coverage as a cornerback should at least be worth some level of consideration.
Johnathan Abram, New Orleans Saints
Just four years ago, Johnathan Abram was a first-round draft pick of the Raiders. He never came close to living up to that and after they gave up on him, he has bounced around the league. He has played for the Packers and Seahawks and is currently a member of the New Orleans Saints, where he is a part of their practice squad.
Abram has certainly been a bust to this point and as a result, would likely not be seen as a huge upgrade for the Broncos right now. At the same time, the Broncos could be in a position at safety where they have to take a chance and see if something sticks.
Abram would be that guy.
He has 36 career starts and has made 267 tackles and come up with three interceptions. He is known to pack a punch as a hitter but is still only 26 years old and is loaded with athleticism.
If Simmons is forced to miss some games before Locke returns, especially with Sterns lost for the season, the Broncos will have to add another player at safety. That could end up being one of these guys.