What Does Justin Simmons Release Mean For Patriots' Kyle Dugger?

The safety free-agent market took an interesting turn with the Denver Broncos releasing All-Pro Justin Simmons.

The Denver Broncos made the shocking decision to release All-Pro safety Justin as a cap casualty.

Simmons, 30, had been a staple of the Denver defense since his arrival in 2016, earning second-team All-Pro nods in four of the past five seasons. However, the Broncos are in a brutal cap situation thanks to the release of quarterback Russell Wilson earlier this week, so cutting Simmons to save $14.5 million in cap space was a necessary evil.

The release of Simmons wasn't just big news for Denver, though, as other teams paying close attention to the safety market took note as well. One such team is the New England Patriots, who just placed the transition tag on standout safety Kyle Dugger.

Matthew J Lee/Boston Globe staff

Clearly, Simmons joining an already-stacked safety market is a big development. The two-time Pro Bowl selection is the latest in a long line of recently-released safeties, featuring big names such as Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson, Kevin Byard and more.

With so many teams cutting ties with high-profile safeties, the market at the position could be taking a dip. This could be great news for the Patriots in their mission to re-sign Dugger to a long-term deal, as they might be able to get him at a lower price tag for years to come. Dugger is set to earn $13.8 million on the transition tag next season, but if the Patriots can lock him up for multiple years at a similar cost, that would be a big win.

Additionally, the recent influx of free-agent safeties could mean that teams are less likely to try to steal Dugger away. Remember, the transition tag does not guarantee that Dugger will return to New England next season as he can still negotiate with other teams, but it does mean that the Patriots have the right to match any offers made by other teams. Presumably, there being more options on the open market would discourage teams from making an offer sheet to Dugger, as there are plenty of similar options available with far less hassle.

Patriots Place Franchise Tag on Kyle Dugger; What's Next?

So, in a way, the Broncos' decision to move on from Simmons is greatly beneficial to the Patriots, proving that most moves in the NFL have a domino effect of some kind.

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