Broncos’ addition of veteran safety Rapp wasn’t necessarily about necessity, Payton says

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos didn’t have much regular-season experience behind their starting safety tandem prior to signing Taylor Rapp last week.

Until then, their reserves had a combined two regular-season starts among them — both belonging to returning All-Pro special teamer Devon Key. And given that their two starting safeties have a combined four injured-reserve stints in the last four campaigns between them, the chances of the Broncos needing at least one of their backup safeties to start is higher than perhaps some would care to admit.

Rapp has 74 career starts — including two in the postseason. So, if he sticks on the roster, the Broncos have a viable starting option just in case something happens to either Talanoa Hufanga or Brandon Jones.

It would seem that the addition of Rapp was about the Broncos feeling they needed a bit more seasoning behind their starters, and that Key, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson, Miles Scott and Parker Robertson couldn’t produce a primary reserve.

But Broncos coach Sean Payton insisted otherwise.

“It wasn’t like us pounding the table, ‘We need a safety,'” Payton said. “It was, ‘Hey, this player’s available,’ and ‘Let’s work him out and sign him if possible.'”

And the workout — along with the physical examination — were essential, given that Rapp’s season ended after six games last year due to a knee injury.

“Yes, [a] veteran player we liked, had good grades on and just more talent at that position,” Payton said.

RAPP WILL HAVE A WEEK TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON BRONCOS

“I’m glad he’s here,” Payton added. “We’ve had experience playing against him. He has real good football instincts and awareness that serves you well at that position. So I think it was more availability than necessity, if that makes sense.”

The Broncos could have the option of releasing Rapp and signing him to their practice squad one day later without running the risk of losing him on the waiver wire. Rapp is a vested veteran; thus, he can determine his next stop if the Broncos release him on Aug. 30.

But the bottom line is simple: If Rapp makes the initial 53-player roster that will be announced next Sunday at the roster deadline, there’s a decent chance that his presence nudged another safety off of it. So it goes in the zero-sum calculus that happens at the annual paring of he team.

For more as the Broncos kicked off their work week, watch the embedded video.

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