First-Team All-Pro Devon Key Isn't Enough: Sean Payton Is 'Anxious' About Broncos Safeties
Yo, Seattle! As we're here in April, watching our Hawks prepare for the season, you gotta peek at what's brewing in Denver. Their head coach, Sean Payton, is already sounding off about being "anxious" to watch his safety competition unfold during their upcoming training camp. Yeah, you heard that right, "anxious." This dude's got nervous energy about a position group, even with a guy who just earned first-team All-Pro honors on special teams! What gives, Denver? This isn't exactly the confident vibe you want to be putting out there.
The Roster Shuffle and Injury Woes
Payton dropped this quote back on June 17, explaining he'll get a clearer picture once they're actually in camp. He said, "We have a number of guys returning, guys playing in different roles," and also mentioned they've "added some people." For the Broncos, safeties are an "important piece" in their defense. Right now, Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones are reportedly locked into starting roles for 2026. But here's the kicker for Jones: he's coming off a season-ending pectoral injury. Plus, he's in a contract year, slated to hit unrestricted free agency next March. Talk about early pressure to prove himself after an injury while playing for his next deal.
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
To make things more interesting, the Broncos let safety P.J. Locke walk to the Dallas Cowboys during the March signing period. Payton even hinted that Jones' injury basically forced their hand to bring in Tycen Anderson, a core special-teamer from the Bengals. Payton pointed out the ripple effect injuries have, saying, "The immediate impact is it goes to [Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Darren] Rizzi because there's someone now that's going to play a bigger role on the defense that may have been playing a role on special teams." He's basically saying they're scrambling to adjust roles, and that's not ideal for building a cohesive defense.
The Darkhorse and the Deep Field
Beyond the presumed starters and the free agency pickup, a whole crew is expected to fight for playing time over the course of training camp and the preseason. We're talking about seventh-round rookie Miles Scott and returning veteran JL Skinner, all pushing to make that final 53-man roster. But the real darkhorse here, the guy who could truly shake things up, is Devon Key. This undrafted free agent is heading into his fifth year with the Broncos. He's fresh off what they called a "breakout season" where he earned first-team All-Pro recognition for his stellar special teams work. So, if he's performing at that level, why the anxiety, Coach Payton? Is the defense itself that big of a question mark? It makes you wonder how much confidence they truly have in their secondary depth outside of Key's proven special teams prowess. It’s a full-on competition, and Payton's "anxious" to see it play out.
Closing
So while the Seahawks are out here grinding, it's wild to see other teams already stressing about foundational pieces like this before the real action even starts. Denver's got a lot of moving parts with injuries, new faces, and guys trying to earn their next contract. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on how this plays out for our division rivals in the coming months. It's never boring in the NFL, that's for sure!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.