Clayton: The Broncos played things perfectly with Justin Simmons

It’s a good thing the Broncos got the Justin Simmons contract done before the franchise-tag period ran out. It saved them a lot of money.

Could you imagine the problem the Broncos would had signing him after the Jamal Adams deal? Adams got a four-year, $70 million deal from the Seahawks, which included $21 million of guarantees upon signing. That’s more than the the $15.23 million Simmons received.

With the cap projected to go up next year because of the new television contracts, it would be tough to zero in on what Simmons’ number would be. Salaries are already starting to spike.

Middle linebackers Fred Warner and Darius Leonard got $19 million or more. Right tackles are topping out at $18 million. Jason Allen just got $43 million a year.

The Dallas Cowboys have now admitted they made a mistake last year when they didn’t lock up Dak Prescott. They probably could have got him done for a little more than $35 million per year. By waiting until this year, they had to pay him $40 million annually.

Now that safeties can get this kind of money, the team that is going to have a problem re-signing one of the league’s best safeties is the Kansas City Chiefs. Tyrann Mathieu is finishing up a three-year, $42 million contract. He’s a free agent after the season. Does he shoot for $17.5 million or does he try to go higher?

The Chiefs already have big money for Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Tyreek Hill and others. That might be tough to go that high on Mathieu.

The Broncos can just be thankful that is not a worry at safety. Simmons is signed, sealed and delivered.

Related

Rockies to call up pitching prospect Mason Adams just weeks after deadline dealBo Nix looked good to Sean Payton in his first appearance back on the fieldSean Payton provides encouraging update on Riley Moss and his rib injuryShedeur Sanders won’t be the Week 1 starter for the BrownsBroncos star CB Pat Surtain II again voted a top-10 player in the NFLThe illusion that the Nuggets are a contender won’t survive the playoffs