First-Team All-Pro Devon Key Is Shaking Up the Broncos Safety Battle and Sean Payton Is Anxious

Alright, 12s, even though our Seahawks are always on our minds, sometimes you gotta peek over the fence at what our rivals are cooking up. And let me tell you, what's happening with the Broncos' safeties has their head coach, Sean Payton, feeling "anxious" about how it's all gonna shake out. It's not the flashiest position, but for Denver, the competition back there is turning into a real headache, especially with a former undrafted guy, Devon Key, suddenly making waves after a surprising All-Pro nod.

One Injury Blew Up Denver's Defensive Plans

It feels like the Broncos' plans for their secondary got tossed out the window thanks to one big injury. Brandon Jones, one of their locked-in starters for 2026, is currently rehabbing a season-ending pectoral injury. Not only that, but the dude is heading into a contract year and is slated to hit unrestricted free agency next March. That's a brutal combination of uncertainty for any team, let alone a division rival trying to build something. Payton actually hinted that Jones' injury was a direct factor in them snagging former Bengals safety Tycen Anderson in free agency. Anderson, a core special-teamer, became their lone outside addition at the position. Oh, and let's not forget they already lost safety P.J. Locke to the Dallas Cowboys back in March. So yeah, they've been scrambling. Payton summed it up on June 17, saying, "I think it will be easier to answer that

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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." That's not exactly a vote of confidence, is it?

Special Teams Star Creating A Roster Headache

Here's where it gets really interesting: Devon Key. This guy, a former undrafted free agent who's now in his fifth year, is the ultimate darkhorse. He's fresh off what they're calling a "breakout season," but get this: it was for stellar special teams work that earned him first-team All-Pro honors. You heard that right, FIRST-TEAM ALL-PRO for special teams! Now, he's expected to push for defensive playing time, and that's creating a ripple effect. Payton even talked about the "immediate impact" such a shift has on special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. When a player who dominates on special teams starts playing a bigger role on defense, it changes everything. "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," Payton noted. Injuries, like Jones', force guys like Key, seventh-round rookie Miles Scott, and returning veteran JL Skinner to step up and gain experience. For the Broncos, finalizing that 53-man roster is going to be a fascinating watch with all these moving pieces. For us up here in the Emerald City, we know a strong secondary is key, and it sounds like Denver's got some work to do.

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