Denver Broncos signing former Miami Dolphins safety Brandon Jones

Free agent and former Miami Dolphins safety Brandon Jones plans to sign with the Denver Broncos ahead of the 2024 season according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Per Schultz, Denver and Jones have agreed to a three-year, $20 million deal. With a $12.5 million guarantee and an upside of $22.5 million with incentives.

Last season for Miami, Jones recorded 48 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble and fumble recovery apiece after making 16 game appearances and six starts. The 25-year-old will now take his talents from South Beach to Mile High as he enters the fifth season of his NFL career.

Jones was selected with the No. 70 overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Dolphins out of Texas. Appearing in 54 total games in his four seasons in Miami and ending his tenure as a Dolphin with 238 total tackles, 8.0 sacks, three interceptions, and one forced fumble in each of his seasons with the franchise.

He played out the final season of his rookie contract for Miami before testing free agency for the first time in his NFL career, seeming like a direct move for the Broncos after they released All-Pro veteran safety Justin Simmons last week following eight seasons with Denver. Saving the Broncos $14.5 million against their salary cap.

Jones joins the Broncos with 30 career starts under his belt, joining safeties Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke who also played their college career with the Longhorns.

There’s no question that Simmons has left some big shoes to fill in the secondary for Denver, but with the Broncos giving up 24.3 points (27th in the NFL) and 370.8 yards (29th in the NFL) per game last season, they can surely use all the help they can get.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. After the restricted free agent deadline comes the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.