<p>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Justin Simmons became the highest-paid safety in the NFL Friday when he agreed to a four-year, $61 million contract with the Denver Broncos, who had franchised him for a second consecutive season.</p>
<p>The deal that agent Todd France negotiated with general manager George Paton includes $35 million in guarantees. </p>
<p>The $15.25 million-per-year average also makes Simmons the first safety to break the $15 million mark. Last year, Arizona signed Budda Baker to a four-year deal that averaged $14.75 million per season.</p>
<p>Although Simmons was the first player franchised tagged this offseason, Paton made it clear the $13.729 million tag was just a placeholder to keep him off the open market while they worked out a long-term contract.</p>
<p>A third-round pick out of Boston College in 2016, Simmons has had nearly 300 tackles and a dozen interceptions in the past three years, during which time he hasn’t missed a single snap. </p>
<p>He had a career-best five interceptions last season when he earned his first Pro Bowl berth a year after he was selected as an All-Pro for the first time.</p>
<p>Simmons has been one of the most active players in the community on a team that’s garnered a reputation for its civic involvement, and last summer Simmons emerged as one of the team’s leading voices on social justice issues.</p>
<p>He’s been the Broncos’ Walter Peyton Man of the Year nominee twice and has won the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award in three of the four seasons he’s been a starter.</p>
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