Denver Broncos are feeling good about their chances of signing safety Justin Simmons to a long-term deal. According to the team’s general manager John Elway, Broncos and Simmons are currently engaged in “active negotiations” and hope to have an agreement soon.
Simmons was set to become a free agent this offseason before Denver placed a franchise tag on him. Now the two sides have until July 15th to agree on a long-term extension. If they fail, the 26-year-old will spend 2020 playing on a tag while Broncos will have to wait until 2021 to resume negotiations.
“As far as Justin, we’re in negotiations right now,” Elway told reporters on Monday. “We’ve given them an offer. They gave us an offer back. We’re in active negotiations with Justin.”
Justin Simmons had a great year in 2019, earning the Second-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career. He finished the season with career-high four interceptions and 15 pass deflections, while also adding 93 tackles.
Considering that Simmons was productive ever since he entered the league in 2016, Broncos will have to give him a big deal in order to keep him in Denver. It is believed that the player will ask a contract similar to a four-year, $58.4 million extension that made Chicago Bears’ Eddie Jackson the highest-paid safety in the league.
