ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The money was nice, sure.
When a player is a free agent, money is always a factor.
But it's not necessarily about what money does for a man's spending and savings accounts as the commitment it represents.
Besides the three-year, $20 million contract Brandon Jones received from the Broncos thanks to the leverage of free agency, Jones chose Denver over other interested teams in part because of how Vance Joseph coordinates the defense.
“The scheme was big,’’ Jones said in a sit-down interview with 9NEWS during the first week of training camp . “The scheme is always big for me. I wanted to play somewhere where I would be utilized to my full potential. And not be labeled or branched into one category.''
Starting with the Vic Fangio era in 2019, the Denver D mostly used a two-deep safety alignment. Joseph, in his second year as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator, has been incorporating a little more of the single-safety scheme, with the other one moving into the box area the way T.J. Ward and John Lynch did in past years.
Jones, like his safety partner P.J. Locke, is known more for his strong safety skills. He, like Locke, is quite good at safety blitzes. Jones had 5.0 sacks for the Dolphins in 2021, when he started 13 games. Locke became the first safety in Broncos history to have a sack in three straight games last year.
“From what I know, I think there will be a lot of single-high. … Last year I never really had a chance to be a middle-of-the-field free safety,'' Jones said. "Just because I haven’t had the experience people automatically think, ‘Oh, he can’t do it.’ But in college I did it a lot.’’
About college. The Broncos’ safety position had been heavy on Texas Longhorns through the offseason. Locke played there. He was one year older than Jones. Jones and Locke started together for coach Todd Herman in 2017-18.
Former Broncos’ backup safety Caden Sterns was a Longhorn, too. He’s nearly two years younger than Jones. Sterns has since been released and is now a street free agent but during the free-agent recruiting period, Jones checked in with Locke and Sterns about what it’s like to play for the Broncos.
“Yeah, any team I had friends with, or old teammates, I would talk to,’’ Jones said. “I was really eager to during free agency learn defenses and how certain teams play. Got on the phone with P.J. and Caden and loved what I heard, obviously. To make it here and be back with them it’s definitely given a college vibe.”
Locke and Sterns must have been impressive recruiters to overcome what Jones saw from the Denver defense last year. He was on the other side of the Miami stadium field on a sweltering week 3 Sunday in late-September when the Dolphins put up 70 points on the visiting Broncos.
Didn’t Jones have concerns about the Denver D after that 70-20 debacle?
“I have never been part of an experience like that, I will say that,’’ Jones said. “Seventy points was insane.
“But I will say the biggest eye-opener for me was how they were able to bounce back. I’m big on adversity hits. Adversity hits every play, every practice, every game -- there’s always adversity. And how you bounce back really determines who you are as a team, who you are as a person and a player.
“From that point on, they went on a streak of being ranked No. 1 in turnovers and getting off the field on third down as a defense. Being part of the Miami game and then seeing that -- I would love to be a part of that.’’
Jones and Locke will be the new safety tandem Sunday when the Broncos open their regular season against the Seattle Seahawks in Lumen Field. They are replacing Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, who had been patrolling the back end of the Denver D since the start of the 2019 season.
It’s not necessarily Jones who is replacing the highly popular and well-decorated Simmons, as so many have suggested. It’s Jones and Locke supplanting Simmons and Jackson. Two replacing two.
The new duo isn’t nearly as experienced as their predecessors – Jones and Locke have both been part-time starters to this point – but during OTA practices it was easy to see the Broncos will have more sideline-to-sideline range on the back end.
>>Video below: Brandon Jones looking forward to next chapter with Broncos
“It’s hard because people say you’re replacing Justin Simmons and Kareem,’’ Jones said. “Both were dynamic players. They did a really good job and were a big staple of the Broncos defense.
“I’m kind of now able to make my own path. Show the fans, show my team what I can do and what I bring to the table so I’m excited about that.”
Jones suffered a hamstring early in training camp and missed the preseason. But he's healthy now, and has been practicing at full speed for the better part of two weeks. He will start Sunday against the Seahawks.
One of the hardest workers on the team, Jones had to learn how to tone down his dedicated work ethic in order to give his hamstring time to heal.
“It was frustrating from that aspect because I’m always … it’s real hard for me to sit still and not do anything,’’ Jones said Thursday. “I can be very hard-headed at times. I definitely think I needed a shock collar at one point through the rehab. Because I’m always, ‘I’m good. I can do this. I can do that.’ They (the trainers) were telling me, ‘No, no. Trust us. Trust the science. Trust the rehab.’
“But I’m super thankful for them though because I’m feeling 100 percent and ready to go, week 1.”
Javonte Williams, you know about. He tore his ACL in game 4 of the 2022 season and the Broncos’ running back has since struggled to regain form.
Jones' journey you may not know about. He was with the Dolphins in 2022 when he suffered a torn ACL in game 7. Listening to Jones describe his path back from the knee injury can give Broncos’ fans a greater appreciation for what Javonte went through last year.
“It’s one of those things throughout my rehab I was told it’s a slow burn,’’ Jones said. “Everyone has said that who’s torn their ACL. They said, ‘You’ll be fully cleared the first year. You’ll be able to do everything. But you won’t feel like yourself.’
“And I was like, ‘I’m usually so much quicker getting out of these breaks. I feel fine. But something’s a little off.’
“And then coming into this offseason I felt perfectly fine. Like I forgot I even tore my ACL. So I think that’s a hurdle that everybody goes through with the ACL but two years removed? Zero problems. One hundred percent you feel like yourself.”
With the Broncos losing such core defensive veterans as Simmons, Jackson, Josey Jewell and Mike Purcell this offseason, Jones will become one of the leaders no matter his newness to the team.
“I always look at a couple things I want to improve on and build in my game,’’ Jones said. “Being here now has given me the opportunity to finally branch out of being a leader by example. Actually having to be more of a vocal leader and being the seasoned vet.
“Which is so weird because people call me, ‘Old Head.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m five years on.’ That’s how young this team is. It’s something I’ve always wanted to grow in my game.
“The fact I’m now getting the opportunity to be a vocal leader and lead some of these younger guys and take that seasoned-vet role is super exciting.”
Jones is returning just in time. The Denver D will need him directing traffic in the back end of the passing game today against the Seahawk likes of quarterback Geno Smith, and receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Jones will also be asked to step up and help defend running back Kenneth Walker.
“They have a lot of weapons,'' Jones said. "Super aggressive, physical, fast team. They definitely play together. A lot of playmakers. Geno can definitely sling it really well. Super smart quarterback. Very few weaknesses on the offensive side I would say.
“I’m super excited – I haven’t played in Seattle yet. That stadium will be rockin.’ It will be super loud, so I’m super excited.”
