The Denver Broncos still have around $17 million in remaining salary cap space entering the summer. Denver still has to sign its draft class but even after doing so, the team will have enough cap space to sign one or two more bargain free agents.
The Broncos might consider bringing in a few more free agents but rewarding some of their own players should be the top priority.
After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, running back Phillip Lindsay probably deserves more than $750,000 this year (especially considering Melvin Gordon will earn $7 million this season).
At the end of March, Denver general manager John Elway said he had spoken with Lindsay’s agent and said the team will see what they can do with Lindsay’s contract situation “later on,” presumably meaning sometime after the draft, which has since passed.
Another player who deserves a contract extension is safety Justin Simmons, who would earn $11.441 million in 2020 if he plays on the franchise tag.
Simmons’ market value is estimated to be about $14.4 million a year, according to Spotrac.com. That would make him the second-highest paid safety in the NFL behind Eddie Jackson ($14.6 million per season).
The Broncos have until July 15 to reach a long-term contract extension with Simmons. If a deal is not reached before that deadline, Simmons will play on the franchise tag this year and become an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
Denver should give Lindsay and Simmons extensions this summer.
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