The Broncos held a press conference with Pro Bowler Justin Simmons, whom the team made the highest paid safety in football on Friday, when they inked the 2019 2nd Team All-Pro to a 4-year $61 Million Deal, with $35 Million Guaranteed.
General Manager George Paton said in his first press conference that re-signing Simmons was a priority and Monday echoed those same sentiments, "Justin was a third-round pick back in 2016, Paton said. "[His] hard work and dedication paid off. He became an All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety. He as all the tools to be the very best—smart, instinctive, athletic, rangy. He's a natural ballhawk. Twenty career interceptions, and he's just scratching the surface. We believe he will only get better and he's going to help us win a lot of football games moving forward. Off the field, Justin is equally impressive."
Simmons hasn't missed a defensive snap in 3 years, and was also the team's nominee for Walter Payton Man of The Year because of his work in the community. But as he said during his press conference, it's not about personal recognition as you can see in the Tweet below.
If Simmons is gonna take his name to the next level, it likely be made possible by the play of the cornerbacks in front of him, and with the additions of Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency. "I've been an admirer of both [CB Ronald] Darby and [CB Kyle] Fuller's game just from afar, Simmons said. "Obviously, I watched a lot of Kyle when I was watching Vic's tape coming over from Chicago. I just watched a lot of him and [Bears safety] Eddie Jackson and [Packers safety Adrian] Amos and those guys. Just watching how they all worked. It felt like they were all just one unit working together. Always on the same page. That's what I wanted to emulate and maximize and even get into a higher tier. Watched a lot of Kyle and really excited to have him as a teammate. I think having him, there's just going to be more at our disposal of being able to work at a higher level in the defense. Darby as well. Watching that Philadelphia Super Bowl run, I watched him make plays. Even last year, I think they were—if I'm not mistaken—maybe second or first in defensive standings. Watching him compete week in and week out against some of the best receivers in the league. We're set up to make something happen, and once again, that's going to fall on my shoulders as the leader in the secondary and I'm going to make sure that whatever happens week in, week out, the secondary is going to be good to go and we're going to compete at the highest level."