Colts: 3 safeties Indy can trade for to replace Malik Hooker
By Jerry Trotta
1. Justin Simmons
The Broncos quietly roster one of the best safeties in the entire NFL.
There’s no two ways about it, folks: Justin Simmons will be one of the most sought after free agents next offseason. While he’s been a reliable starter for Denver for the last three years, he really entered the elite conversation in 2019.
Simmons started all 16 games last season while playing 100% (!) of the defensive snaps, recording 93 tackles, 15 passes defensed and 4 interceptions along the way. Those numbers are impressive for a safety, but they don’t even begin to encapsulate his dominance in coverage. For context, Pro Football Focus gave the former third-round pick a 90.5 coverage grade and 90.4 seasonal grade for his efforts in 2019. Both of those ranked first among ALL defensive backs in the NFL.
Simmons will be due for a monster extension next offseason, and the Colts will undoubtedly be able to offer him one once the contracts of Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett, who combine to form a $46.375 million cap hit this year, come off the books.
What makes Simmons a legitimate trade target for Indy is that the Broncos are already 0-2 and will be without quarterback Drew Lock for multiple weeks after he went down with a sprained AC join in his throwing shoulder on Sunday. To add injury to insult, No. 1 wideout Courtland Sutton suffered a season-ending ACL in the game, too.
If Denver mails it in — chances are they do — the Colts should seriously get them on the phone with an offer for Simmons at the ready.
