Broncos Linked to Former Bengals, Saints Free-Agent Safety
The Denver Broncos have a myriad of needs this upcoming season. The offensive line needs ample help, the running back room could use some new faces (and legs), and the defensive line appears to be heading for turnover this offseason.
If one were to ask what position group the Broncos will add this offseason, it would be quicker to list which positions the team shouldn’t target rather than the ones it should add.
One position that has yet to be discussed much for Denver is that of safety. Yes, the Broncos roster has one of the best safeties in the NFL currently in Justin Simmons, but across from him is presently a mystery.
According to Around the NFL writer Nick Shook, the Broncos are an excellent match to sign free-agent safety Vonn Bell, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengal and New Orleans Saints.
With Dre'Mont Jones and DeShawn Williams headed for free agency, Denver is going to need a couple of defensive linemen, but the Broncos are also going to require a replacement for Kareem Jackson. Bell is precisely the type of safety who produces at a high enough level to draw a quality contract that won't be too expensive but likely worth it. Bell performed similarly to Juan Thornhill in 2022, with four interceptions, eight passes defensed and a pair of forced fumbles, and he'd go from playing alongside one excellent safety in Jessie Bates to another in Justin Simmons. Defense was Denver's strength in 2022, and with the future of the offense still uncertain, it's logical to invest further in the other side of the ball in a player who has some experience contending for championships.
Indeed, Denver must find a Jackson replacement this offseason. The soon-to-be 35-year-old might not be the best option for Denver next to Simmons moving forward, given his age and play of late.
In Jackson's first two seasons in Denver, he earned an average Pro Football Focus grade of 81.35, but over the past two seasons, that fell to an average of 58.3.
Instead of retaining Jackson for a fifth year, Shook states that Bell would be exactly the right safety to succeed him next to Simmons. With safety being the third lowest-paid position for franchise tags in 2023 (only ahead of tight end and running back), a team can find a quality player for a relative bargain in the current market.
Some in Broncos Country may disagree with the Bell assertion, arguing that Denver should invest further into the defense this season because of the team's offensive uncertainty going forward. However, adding a player like Bell, who “has some experience contending for championships,” could help Denver maintain a strong secondary as a key identity of this team.
The Broncos do have a need for defensive line reinforcements this offseason. However, with the apparent holes along both sides of the line of scrimmage, it’s anyone’s guess as to who GM George Paton may target this offseason.
Bell might not be an ideal target given the Broncos’ most pressing needs, but as the article makes the case, he certainly would make some sense to target this offseason.
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