In the 2024 offseason, the Denver Broncos made several tough, financially-driven decisions, but none stung as much as parting ways with veteran safety Justin Simmons. For most of the past eight years, Simmons had been a fan favorite and one of the few bright spots on a team often at the bottom of the league standings. Throughout his tenure, he built one of the most impressive careers for a safety in franchise history.
Simmons joined the Broncos after Super Bowl 50 but never experienced playoff success with the team. In his place, the Broncos signed former Miami Dolphins third-round pick Brandon Jones, a move that initially raised eyebrows due to the challenge of replacing a key player like Simmons. Jones had been a rotational player for much of his career in Miami, so fans were skeptical about the team’s decision to replace one of their top performers with an unproven commodity.
However, despite the initial skepticism, Jones has been nothing short of exceptional in 2024. His performance has been historically significant, as he became the first Broncos safety since Hall of Famer Steve Atwater in 1995 to record over 100 tackles and 3 or more interceptions in a single season. Remarkably, Jones has achieved this feat while missing a few games, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.
Jones has also demonstrated his ability to make plays near the line of scrimmage, using his physicality to contribute as a tackler. Beyond his tackling, he has significantly improved the Broncos’ coverage, allowing a career-low 71.3 quarterback rating against him despite being targeted 58 times—nearly double the number of targets he’s faced in any previous season.
The Broncos’ decision to go with a younger player at safety has paid off in spades, with Jones emerging as a key contributor. As the Broncos prepare for a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jones has the opportunity to continue building on what is shaping up to be one of the most impressive seasons in recent Broncos history.
