Many Denver Broncos fans woke up on Thursday morning to shocking moves ahead of the start of the new league year next Wednesday. By moving on from a fan favorite, impact player, all signs point to a less-than-competitive Broncos team in 2024.

Denver Broncos release veteran All-Pro, team captain Justin Simmons

Justin Simmons has emerged into one of the best Denver Broncos players in franchise history. Since 2016, he’s led the entire NFL in total interceptions.

Not only has Simmons continued to ascend year after year and emerge as a cornerstone player of the franchise, he’s had a meaningful impact on the field and, more importantly, off the field.

He was the Broncos’ back-to-back-to-back Walter Payton Man of The Year nominee for his efforts in the community through the Justin Simmons Foundation alongside his wife Taryn. They became a stable part of the Denver community.

Simmons spent countless hours in the community, dedicating his time to the Boys and Girls Club and mentoring youth in the area. This past holiday season, he and his wife hand-delivered Christmas trees to families in need and provided families with tickets to see the Broncos play on Christmas Eve.

When you think of a player who is the face of the franchise, Simmons is one player who comes to mind. Now he’ll have the opportunity to go play for a contender, where he will have a chance to finally compete for a Super Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins are teams that could find themselves in the running for the All-Pro safeties services.

Sean Payton has all of the pressure on him

It’s understood that the Broncos made this move to become cap-compliant before the new league year rolls into effect next season, but this is a bold move for Sean Payton and George Paton.

With Simmons now a free agent and P.J. Locke set to become one next week, the Broncos’ only solidified option at the position is Caden Sterns who is coming off of a knee injury that kept him out all season.

Sterns has made great progress in his recovery and rehab and has been an impact player when on the field, but behind him, there are plenty of questions surrounding the team’s depth at safety.

Granted, there are several key names that are available for the safety position, including Quandre Diggs, Jordan Whitehead, Jalen Mills, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, but none of those players are Simmons.

Releasing Simmons is a move that feels like Payton is waving the white flag on the team being competitive in 2024. In games without Simmons last season, Denver struggled mightily on defense.

Team CEO Greg Penner expressed his expectation at the end of the season that Denver needs to have more than eight wins in 2024, but this move makes it hard to see that happening.

On top of holes at the safety position, the Broncos still don’t know who their starting quarterback will be next season either. While they can address some of these needs in free agency and the NFL Draft, one can’t help but wonder if the Broncos are fully embracing a rebuild with this being one of the many anticipated moves still to come.

Buckle up, Broncos Country; the ride is about to get even bumpier.