Devon Key Earned First-Team All-Pro on Special Teams and Nobody's Talking About His Shot at Starter

Hold up, 12s, gather 'round! While everyone's obsessing over the flashy wideouts or the defensive end depth charts in the league, Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton just dropped a bombshell that tells you everything you need to know about where his real worries lie. He's "anxious," straight up, about the competition brewing at safety. And honestly, for good reason. This isn't just some fringe battle; Payton made it clear it's a critical piece of their defense.

Payton's 'Anxious' Plea for Defensive Answers

Look, the man knows what he's talking about. On June 17, Payton laid it all out, saying, "I think it will be easier to answer that as we get into camp. We have a number of guys returning, guys playing in different roles. We’ve added some people. It’s an important piece in our defense relative to what we ask them to do. I think I’m anxious to see." You feel that? That's not just coach-speak. That's a guy who knows he's got a puzzle on his hands and the pieces aren't quite fitting yet. You can see why. Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones are penciled in as starters for 2026, but Jones is coming off a brutal season-ending pectoral injury. Oh, and guess what? He's in a contract year, set to hit unrestricted free agency in March. Talk about high stakes! To add to the chaos, they lost safety P.J. Locke to the Dallas Cowboys during the March signing period. Their lone free agency pickup was Tycen Anderson, a former Bengals safety known for his core special teams work. Payton even admitted Anderson's acquisition was a direct response to Jones' injury. It all rolls downhill to special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, too. Payton pointed out, "The immediate impact is it goes to [Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Darren] Rizzi because ther

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e’s someone now that’s going to play a bigger role on the defense that may have been playing a role on special teams. It’s always interesting to watch the performance of a player who is playing more on offense and defense, and then how does he still handle the special teams role. No one has that. That’s just the nature of our league with injuries. When you have that, other guys are getting experience, getting playing time and you become a little bit more seasoned as a team.” It's a ripple effect, folks, and it shows just how much one injury can mess with a roster.

The Undrafted Gem Who Could Shock Everyone

Now, while everyone's fixated on the names we already know, there's a serious darkhorse in this safety race, and his story is straight out of a movie. We're talking about Devon Key, an undrafted free agent who's entering his fifth year with the Broncos. Why aren't we screaming about this guy? He's fresh off a breakout season, earning first-team All-Pro honors for his absolutely stellar work on special teams! Think about that: first-team All-Pro. That's elite company. Yet, he's still fighting for a bigger defensive role. You've also got seventh-round rookie Miles Scott and returning veteran JL Skinner pushing for playing time. But Key? He's got the resume no one is really talking about for a starting gig. This could be the year he goes from special teams ace to a defensive force. As the Broncos inch closer to finalizing that 53-man roster, this safety competition isn't just a side-show. It's the key to their defensive identity. Will Brandon Jones bounce back strong? Can Tycen Anderson juggle defensive duties with his special teams prowess? Or will Devon Key, the former undrafted All-Pro, finally get his well-deserved shot and solidify that secondary? Keep your eyes locked on this, because how this plays out will absolutely shape their season.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.