ESPN Reveals Broncos' Biggest Draft Steal of the Past Decade

Seven years in, it's safe to say that the Denver Broncos out-kicked their coverage on safety Justin Simmons. A third-round pick out of Boston College back in 2016, Simmons has, alas, been a part of seven straight Broncos teams to miss the playoffs, but he's brought acclaim to the organization through his individual accolades, leadership, and community outreach.

A Pro Bowler and three-time second-team All-Pro, Simmons is one of the NFL's biggest draft steals of the past decade. At least, that's how ESPN's Matt Miller and Jordan Reid view it, with the former listing Simmons at No. 33 on ESPN's top-50 list of NFL draft bargains of the past 10 years.

Drafted:

No. 98 in 2016 (

Denver Broncos

)

Career stats:

522 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 27 interceptions, 58 pass breakups and 1 TD in seven seasons

A 4.53-second run in the 40-yard dash dropped the sudden, explosive Simmons to the end of Round 3, where the Broncos made the wise decision to end his wait. Simmons was the seventh safety drafted in 2016 but has been a seven-year starter with three second-team All-Pro selections to his credit. Finding him at No. 98 overall -- and keeping him in town -- has been a brilliant move for the Broncos. He has at least five interceptions in each of the past three seasons.

-- Miller

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As a front office executive with the Minnesota Vikings, current Broncos GM George Paton studied Simmons as a draft prospect coming out of Boston College back in 2016, and he would absolutely concur with ESPN that the safety was a draft steal. It's ironic that while Paton's Vikings passed on Simmons early in the 2016 draft, he became the GM to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL five years later.

"He had a lot of the same traits you see now. The thing I remember is he needed to get stronger, he wasn't fully developed, but you saw the range, you saw the ball skills and you saw the ability to play in space," Paton said back in March of 2021 after extending Simmons. "He was just undersized a little bit. He hadn't grown into his body yet. I think the entire league missed on him because he lasted until the end of the third round. Since he's come here, he's gotten stronger, he's gotten bigger and more confident."

After playing the 2020 season on the franchise tag, the Broncos recognized Simmons' contributions and talent by awarding him a four-year, $61 million contract extension in March of 2021, which, at the time, made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL. He's now the sixth-highest-paid safety with a $15.2 million/year average.

Last year, Simmons led the NFL in interceptions with six, though he was tied with three other players at the top, including two safeties — Minkah Fitzpatrick and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Simmons also notched 69 tackles (42 solo), forced three fumbles, and broke up seven passes.

Simmons now enters his age-30 season (birthday in November) with yet another new coaching regime in Denver. However, this time around, the new defensive coordinator isn't a complete stranger, nor is his scheme.

Simmons has been reunited with Vance Joseph as Denver's new defensive coordinator, whom the safety played for from 2017-18. Simmons always acquitted himself well during Joseph's tenure as head coach of the Broncos back then, but it wasn't until Vic Fangio arrived that the safety truly managed to break through and become a bonafide NFL star.

Here's to hoping that Simmons' best playing days aren't yet behind him. Under head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos will need Simmons' savvy football IQ, athletic playmaking ability, and the glue-like leadership he brings to the locker room.

As to the subject at hand, there's no doubt that Simmons was a draft steal. He became the NFL's highest-paid safety at the conclusion of his rookie contract, so props to former Denver GM John Elway for recognizing that diamond in the rough.

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