Clayton: Justin Simmons strikes gold with Broncos during uneven free agency

Justin Simmons became the league’s highest paid safety in the NFL on Thursday, when he signed a four-year, $61-million contract. He has taken the safety position into the $15 million per year range.

He earned it.

What’s amazing about this free agent period is numbers are over the place. The Broncos were smart in franchising Simmons. It’s a strong market for safeties. There are good ones in free agency and coming out in the draft.

What will be interesting is to see how his contract affects Jamal Adams of the Seattle Seahawks. He should end up as the league’s highest-paid safety, but if he asks for too much, it won’t happen. Adams is starting what could be a Hall of Fame career. Last year, for example, he set an NFL record for a defensive back by getting 9.5 sacks. He’s been to the Pro Bowl the last three years. Adams could try to see if he can get pass-rusher numbers, but if he can’t, he will have to play out one more year on his contract. He’s on the fifth-year option.

Running backs and wide receivers are the positions getting beat up. With the cap down eight percent, teams are reluctant to pay $17 million to $18 million for a receiver. Kenny Golladay wants $18.5 million and remains unsigned. Curtis Samuel got the best deal among receivers when he signed with Washington for $12.125 million a year. That’s less than the $12.5 million a year the New England Patriots paid tight ends Junno Smith and Hunter Henry.

Will Fuller had to accept one-year deal, $10 million deal with Miami. JuJu Smith-Schuster came back to the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million contract. T.J. Hilton of the Indianapolis Colts is still unsigned.

At the running back spot, Aaron Jones was able to get a four-year, $48 million deal from Green Bay to re-sign, but the rest of the backs are struggling. Kenyon Drake made more than $8 million last year as a transition player. He had to take a two-year $11 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, who have a great young back (Josh Jacobs).

So despite an uneven market, coming off the pandemic, Simmons was able to cash in during free agency working out a fair deal with George Paton. That’s good news for him, as not every other great player is reaping those kinds of rewards.