The Denver Broncos are moving on from one of the pillars of their defense and one of the premier players at his position in safety Justin Simmons.
Thursday, a week before NFL free agency begins in earnest, the Broncos released All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, in a move that will create $14.5 million in cap space while triggering a $3.75 million dead-money charge in 2024.
ESPN's Adam Schefter shared the news via X.
Broncos are releasing former All-Pro safety Justin Simmons after eight seasons in Denver, per league sources.
Moving on from Simmons, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, will save the Broncos $14.5 million against their salary cap. pic.twitter.com/AnBnuOVOlQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2024
Simmons, 30, had been poised to enter the final year of his contract prior to being released on Thursday, and is coming off a 2023 campaign that saw him post 70 total tackles with one sack and three interceptions.
As Pro Football Focus points out, Simmons is still at the top of his game, holding opposing quarterbacks to a meager 85.9 passer rating when targeting him while wide receivers averaged 14.1 yards per reception against him. Simmons finished last season as the outlet's No. 42 ranked safety in the NFL.
Through his first 118 games, Simmons' 30 career interceptions represents the most of any defender in the league over that span, and he has produced 604 total tackles with 19 tackles for loss and 4.5 career sacks.
Simmons now becomes one of the premier safeties available in free agency, alongside recently released former Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer, especially after the Buccaneers used the franchise tag to ensure ascending talent Antoine Winfield Jr. remains in Tampa Bay for at least one more season.
For the Broncos, releasing Simmons creates a void in the secondary but was a necessary departure given Denver's horrific cap situation that was magnified by a misguided contract extension handed out to Russell Wilson prior to the 2023 campaign.
After releasing Wilson earlier this week and moving on from Simmons, now the Broncos are only $5.5 million over the cap, as general manager George Paton and Co. are inching closer to becoming cap-compliant ahead of the NFL new league year beginning on March 13.
