Before the Denver Broncos placed a one-year franchise tag on safety Justin Simmons, Spotrac.com estimated that the team had about $53.4 million in salary cap space. Simmons’ tag is worth around $11.545 million.
After subtracting Simmons’ 2020 salary from Spotrac’s estimation, we calculate that Denver has about $41.9 million in remaining salary cap space. If the Broncos move on from quarterback Joe Flacco, that total could increase to $51.95 million.
We won’t know the team’s exact salary cap number until the NFL finalizes a salary cap figure for the 2020 season. The league has projected that the cap will be between $196.8 and $201.2 million this year.
Denver general manager John Elway plans to continue negotiating with Simmons on a multi-year contract extension. By placing a tag on Simmons, the Broncos will prevent other teams from starting a bidding war — only Denver is allowed to negotiate with the safety now.
“We remain focused on reaching a long-term contract agreement with Justin, and he’s a big priority for us,” Elway said in a statement to the team’s official website. “This is a placeholder in that process and our goal is the same — to make sure that Justin is a Bronco for a long time.”
Simmons, 26, totaled 93 tackles and four interceptions last season.
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