After releasing veteran Justin Simmons, the Denver Broncos have found a replacement in NFL free agency.
The Broncos agreed to terms on a three-year, $20 million contract with safety Brandon Jones on Monday. The deal will not become official until the NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday, but that’s likely just a formality. Jones is on his way to Denver.
Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to the news.
Truly wouldn’t trade these last 4 years for anything. Forever grateful for the Dolphins organization for taking a chance on a kid from Nacogdoches, Texas that wanted nothing more than to live out his childhood dreams of playing in the NFL. Denver⦠LFG ð¤
— Brandon Jones (@BlessedJones33) March 11, 2024
Brandon Jones from week 12 onwards in 2023:
234 coverage snaps
0 TDs allowed
2 INTs
39.8 passer rating allowed when targetedð pic.twitter.com/TkCRcZXI2E
— PFF DEN Broncos (@PFF_Broncos) March 11, 2024
New #Broncos starting safety Brandon Jones finished last season as PFF’s 16th-ranked S out of 95 qualifiers.
Former starting S Justin Simmons finished 42nd.
— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) March 11, 2024
We’ll see how the rest of the safety market plays out, but for now, I really like the Brandon Jones signing
They now have multiple young, affordable answers at safety that all have untapped potential to some degree
The type of shrewd signings DEN should be making right now
— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) March 11, 2024
The total guaranteed money for safety Brandon Jones is $12.5 million, per my man @ParkerJGabriel. These are type of signings that #Broncos have to hit on as they rebuild. More shrewd than showroom floor. One of #Broncos' best value signings over last decade? Safety Darian⦠https://t.co/wS0IJ1QrsO
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) March 11, 2024
I wonder what a Denver secondary would look like with Brandon Jones playing alongside Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke… ð¤ https://t.co/guTaeugJUd pic.twitter.com/t48IYn3FFu
— Danny Davis (@_dannydavis) March 11, 2024
I really really really like the chemistry side of it for Caden Sterns, PJ Locke and Brandon Jones.
All are former Texas Longhorns.
— ð¾ðð¢ðð§ð¤ð£ ððð§ð ðð§ (@CameronParkerPO) March 11, 2024
The three likely contenders to start at Safety next year all played on the same team at Texas in 2018
P.J. Locke
Brandon Jones
Caden Sterns pic.twitter.com/0qQEB4gt92— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) March 11, 2024
Back in 2018 at Texas, the combination of Brandon Jones, Caden Sterns, and PJ Locke went for 209 total tackles and six interceptions
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) March 11, 2024
A little bit of info for you all on the Broncos newest safety Brandon Jones pic.twitter.com/7sZooKBNSr
— Mile High Mario (@VetanzeTherapy) March 11, 2024
#Broncos new safety Brandon Jones is 25 years old.
Former third-round pick. He's appeared in 54 games over the last four seasons, including 30 starts.Jones' career stats:
238 tackles
14 quarterback hits
9 pass breakups
8 sacks
4 forced fumbles
3 interceptions. https://t.co/Rd0t3d7fOB— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) March 11, 2024
Brandon Jones in coverage in 2023
11 targets allowed
8 catches allowed
41 yards allowed
1 TD allowed
2 INTs
68.9 NFL rating allowed when targeted
292 coverage snaps pic.twitter.com/KPflI2ziWH— Michael ð²ð½ (@RespectMyCos) March 11, 2024
$6.67M APY is less than half of what was due to Justin Simmons ($14.5M) in 2024.
The Broncos signing Brandon Jones to this contract creates a 6th round 2025 compensatory pick to the Dolphins. https://t.co/r2CQbWqQdP
— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) March 11, 2024
The average per-year value on Brandon Jones ($6.67 million) and P.J. Locke ($3.5 million) adds up to $10.17 million.
That's $4.33 million under than the amount the Broncos saved by cutting Justin Simmons.
Effectively the Broncos got two safeties for less than the price of one.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) March 11, 2024
The Broncos now have three safeties — Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke and Caden Sterns — under contract for the 2024 season. The post-Justin Simmons era has begun in Denver.
