State of the Broncos: Is it time for a transition at the safety position?
Feb 3, 2022, 6:57 AM
The Broncos finished the 2021 season with a 7-10 record. It was the team’s fifth-straight losing season. It also marked the sixth-consecutive year in which the franchise failed to make the playoffs.
As a result, Vic Fangio was shown the door. The head coach was 19-30 during his three seasons in Denver. A coaching change is on the way.
What will the new head coach inherit? What will his new staff have to work with in Denver?
The “State of the Broncos” series is a position-by-position look at what went well in 2021, what didn’t and what needs to change for ’22 and beyond. In this installment, it’s time to take a look at a position that has been a bright spot in Denver for years – safety.
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Pro Football Focus Grades
Justin Simmons – 74.8
Caden Sterns – 59.2
Kareem Jackson – 52.0
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2021 Review
The Broncos went into the 2021 season with one foot in and one foot out on their safety duo. After years of negotiations, they finally reached a long-term deal with Justin Simmons, giving the All-Pro a four-year, $61-million deal. At the same time, they were slashing Kareem Jackson’s pay in half, from $10 million to $5 million in 2021.
It wasn’t hard to read the tea leaves. The duo would be together for one more season, with Simmons a part of the team’s long-term plans and Jackson a bridge to the future.
Enter Caden Sterns, a fifth-round pick out of Texas. He’d be first in line to replace the veteran, getting groomed to play alongside Simmons in the future.
While this may sound like a bit of a tricky situation, it worked well in 2021. For the most part, all three played well.
Simmons lived up to his contract. On the season, he recorded a team-high five interceptions, had 1.5 sacks and posted 80 tackles. He was all over the field on a weekly basis.
Jackson led the Broncos in tackles with 88, despite missing two games due to injury. He also had a sack and a pick.
And Sterns, playing mostly in a reserve role, had 2.0 sacks and two interceptions. He showed a nose for the football that suggested he’s the right replacement for Jackson.
The Broncos defense was mostly a bright spot in 2021. For the most part, it was their safeties who shined.
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A Look Ahead
It would be a huge surprise if Kareem Jackson returned in 2022. The Broncos parted ways with the veteran prior to last season, only to bring him back at 50 cents on the dollar after the safety found the free-agent market softer than anticipated.
This time around, the Broncos have an alternative. They appear ready to turn the page to Caden Sterns. There isn’t a lot of room for 34-year-old backups in the NFL, which means Jackson will have to go elsewhere to find a home.
With their starting pairing set, the offseason will be about adding depth. Do they retain P.J. Locke in free agency? Are they happy with Jamar Johnson? Most likely, the answer will be yes on both fronts, as they’d like to see how each can develop and continue to use them on special teams.
Thus, don’t expect the Broncos to venture into the free-agent market for a safety. There simply isn’t a need.
They could spend a late-round pick on another young safety, as they did a year ago with Sterns and Johnson. George Paton could decide to play the numbers game, figuring he can find a diamond in the rough with a few extra darts.
Either way, the Broncos are likely set at safety for years to come. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it’s Justin Simmons and Caden Sterns in the back of Denver’s defense.
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