Mile High Report
Headlined by Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, the Denver Broncos have a talented group of safeties for the upcoming season.
The Denver Broncos showcase one of the most talented secondaries in the National Football League. This offseason, they added key players at both cornerback and safety to keep the backend of their defense strong for the coming 2025 season.
Talanoa Hufanga was the big-named addition to the safety position. If he can remain healthy and revert to his past form, he and Brandon Jones could be one of the top backend duos in football. Veteran P.J. Locke, who Hufanga is replacing as a starter, is the team’s third safety and an experienced player that gives them a quality depth piece at the position.
Outside of them, five other players are hoping to make the team’s 53-man final roster at the position. Last season, the Broncos kept five safeties on their active roster for most of the season. That’s a trend I expect to continue this year. Let’s take a deeper look at the eight players competing at the position this training camp and preseason.
Brandon Jones — Starter
Replacing veteran Justin Simmons was a priority for Denver last offseason. After cutting ties with their former third-round pick out of Boston College, they made Brandon Jones one of their splash signings the franchise 2024 free agency period.
The former Miami Dolphins safety had an impactful first season with the Broncos. In 2024, Jones amassed 115 tackles and picked off three passes—career highs for former Texas Longhorn entering his sixth season in the NFL. On top of that, he drastically improved with respect to missed tackles, having a respectable 6.5-percent on the season.
A standout in coverage and against the run, Jones’ play in ‘24 had him recognized as one of the top ten safeties in the league per Pro Football Focus. If he continues to improve and build upon his most successful campaign to date, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear him earn Pro-Bowl or All-Pro accolades in 2025.
Talanoa Hufanga — Starter
Once an All-Pro player in 2022, injuries have hampered Talanoa Hufanga’s ability to make an impact on the field—relegating him to just 17 games played the past two seasons.
The Broncos are hoping the injuries are behind Hufanga who made reward him with a lucrative contract in free agency. This offseason, they signed him to a three-year deal worth $45 million dollars with $20 million in guarantees. A tone-setter on the backend who plays with passion and ferocity, the fifth-year pro should present an upgrade to P.J. Locke who struggled last year in an expanded role in the Broncos’ defense.
When he is on the field, he is a force to be reckoned with. The only concern I have is his availability. If he is able to stay healthy, he should play a focal role in helping shut down opposing team’s passing attacks and form a top-tier tandem alongside Jones.
**P.J....
