'He's just scratching the surface': Why Justin Simmons is critical to the Broncos' future

[Miles]

Collinsworth's comment proved prescient, and in today's NFL, both Paton and Fangio are happy that Simmons is on their side — regardless of how they ended up with the All-Pro player.


As Fangio explained Monday, teams' proclivity for three wide receiver sets has increased the value of a talented safety. And in Simmons, the Broncos have one of the best.


"To have safeties that can play the deep part of the field is important, but also to have safeties that when we want to bring them down and cover wide receivers or a really good tight end, that's part of the job description too now," Fangio said. "It happens more often. The game is more wide open — not on a bigger field, per se, but the ball is spread around the field more than it used to. So the safety position has become a very, very important position, and we're happy to have him here."


Paton echoed Fangio's sentiment about the changing nature of the game, and he emphasized the unique role Simmons can play as "a top safety in the NFL" to slow down opposing offenses.


"It's a space and cover league," Paton said. "No one can play in space and cover as good as Justin at safety in the NFL. It's such a passing league, and his ability to play the run and play in space and blitz and cover tight ends, it's huge to have that on your football team."


Paton called out Simmons' instincts, mental acuity, athletic ability, range and ball skills as his key traits — and he believes the five-year veteran can continue to improve.


"He's just scratching the surface," Paton said. "We believe he'll only get better, and he's going to help us win a lot of football games moving forward."


Simmons, too, agreed that he hasn't yet played his best football. As the Broncos look for Simmons to add even more value than the nine interceptions and 24 passes defensed he's recorded over the past two seasons, they're simply hoping the Pro Bowler can add a few more positive plays in 2021.


"I don't see a glaring weakness, but I do think there's things he can do better," Fangio said. "We're looking for 20 better plays — and you don't know when they're going to happen — which may involve him getting a few more picks, which may involve him making a critical tackle over the course of a season. We're not talking about wholesale betterment. Everything's so tight in the NFL, if we can find him 10 to 20 to 25 better plays than maybe he's had so far in his career over the course of the 17 games, that's what I'm talking about. A couple more picks, a couple more crucial stops in the tackling area. And the things that aren't even statistical: being even a better leader in the secondary and affecting a whole defense. There are some good players that need a caddy out there. He's a good player and he caddies for others. Those are hard to find."


With the contract negotiations in the past, Simmons will be able to participate in the team's offseason program — whether virtual or in-person — without the lingering concern of finalizing a long-term deal.


"I know how important it is to be here Day 1," Simmons said. "Even if the system's still the same, you have new people. It's important Day 1 to really build those bonds and get everyone on the same page as close as possible. Going into training camp and into the season, you're maximizing your time as a unit so that you can play to the best of your abilities."


Simmons is hardly the only one glad to have a deal in place that will keep him in Denver through 2024. Both Fangio and Paton expressed their excitement that Simmons will remain the leader of the team's secondary.


"It's really nice to reward players who deserve it, and Justin definitely deserved it," Paton said.