Justin Simmons was in a hurry to get off the phone.
“I’m at the NFLPA meeting in Miami and the meeting’s about to start,’’ Simmons said politely as he could. “Brandon McManus is our player rep but I’m down here as a player involved.’’
Tag or it, Simmons is the best third-round draft pick John Elway has made as the Broncos’ general manager.
Dre’Mont Jones has a chance to compete for that distinction but with apologies to Ronnie Hillman, Simmons has been the pride of the final so-called “starter rounds.”
Simmons unquestionably is about to become the highest-paid third-round selection in Broncos’ history as he will get no less than an $11.545 million franchise tag salary for 2020. There are four safeties making an annual average of at least $14 million.
The Broncos and Simmons’ agent have been trying to negotiate a multiyear contract prior to the franchise tag deadline which has now been moved twice – from today (March 10) to Thursday and then to Monday.
A second-team All-Pro safety in 2019, Simmons has played every defensive snap over the past two, 16-game seasons. (Perhaps, he’s in Miami wondering about his chances of playing every snap in a 17-game season.)
Simmons has started 48 games and has 11 interceptions in his four years since the Broncos made him their No. 98 overall selection out of Boston College in the 2016 draft.
The Broncos’ third-round selections as Elway moves into his 10th draft as general manager:
2011: Nate Irving, linebacker
2012: Ronnie Hillman, running back
2013: Kayvon Webster, cornerback
2014: Michael Schofield, offensive tackle
2015: Jeff Heuerman, tight end
2016: Justin Simmons, safety
2017: Carlos Henderson, receiver; Brendan Langley, cornerback
2018: Royce Freeman, running back; Isaac Yiadom, cornerback
2019: Dre’Mont Jones, defensive lineman
Even before Elway took charge, the third round hasn’t been all that kind to the Broncos. Billy Thompson, Jason Elam and Paul Howard were the best third-rounders in Broncos’ history but there were far more selections like Matt Snorton, Jeremy LeSueur and Carlos Henderson who didn’t work out.
Simmons, though, has a chance to join the franchise’s top-tier third-round group.
As of Tuesday, it appeared Simmons would wind up with the franchise tag, which would serve as a temporary pause to contract talks until after the team concentrates on the free agency period that opens Monday for negotiations.
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