The Denver Broncos have embraced a youth movement heading into the 2024 season that is most likely the right direction for the team. That led to some moves that were tough for the fanbase to swallow, including letting go of both Justin Simmons and Tim Patrick.
But it's the former of those two moves — releasing Simmons — that is still difficult to accept. It seems teams in today's NFL are placing far less importance on the safety position than in years past, but the Broncos have a shallow depth chart at safety, no matter how you look at it.
The replacement for Simmons, Brandon Jones, signed this offseason as a free agent, didn't play a single snap in the preseason due to a hamstring injury. The hope is that he'll be ready for Week 1 but even if he is, there will be questions. What if the injury lingers? Is he a good fit for this defense?
If the Broncos have a weakness on this roster, it is at the safety position.
Denver Broncos safety depth
The Broncos have Jones and P.J. Locke listed as their starters. For all of the praise Broncos Country poured on Locke last season, he's been a special teams guy for much of his career.
Behind them, the team has JL Skinner, Devon Key and Keidron Smith. Smith likely would not have made the roster if he hadn't forced a turnover in all three preseason games. The team has Tanner McAlister on the practice squad and should get Delarrin Turner-Yell, who will begin the season on the PUP list, back at some point.
The team likely would have brought undrafted free agent Omar Brown back to the practice squad, but he did not clear waivers after being grabbed by the Green Bay Packers.
No one on that depth chart is creating fear within any offensive coordinators in the league. The Broncos will have to hope that the group overachieves, but it's a situation where a move before the trade deadline later this year could be warranted.
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