P.J. Locke’s glow-up came in his fourth season with the Broncos.
It started during the final two minutes of Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, when Locke cut across the field to pick off quarterback Jordan Love’s deep pass inside Broncos territory and secure a 19-17 victory.
The safety’s first career interception jump-started a five-game win streak for Denver, and Locke saw his role grow from special teams regular to starting in place of veteran Kareem Jackson while he served a pair of suspensions for illegal hits prior to his release in December.
Now, with Locke set to hit free agency, the Broncos have a decision to make. Locke said he doesn’t want to dwell on his future, but if the opportunity to remain Denver’s starting safety presents itself, he will jump to it.
“If everything works out (that) way, then for sure,” he told reporters this month.
Denver has a laundry list of things it needs to figure out this offseason. The decision on whether or not to re-sign Locke is among the more prominent ones, especially given the current landscape of the safety room.
Caden Sterns, who has had season-ending injuries in the past two years, is recovering from a torn patella tendon that he suffered just two plays into a Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sterns expects to be involved in the offseason program and OTAs but doesn’t know if he’ll be full-go. Meanwhile, second-year safety Delarrin Turner-Yell suffered a torn ACL during Week 17’s home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Denver is high on JL Skinner, the team’s sixth-round draft pick in 2023, but the former Boise State standout played one defensive snap in two games this past season and remains largely unproven.
In addition, Justin Simmons, who was named second-team All-Pro by The Associated Press, is entering the final year of his deal and doesn’t have any guaranteed money.
With so many question marks at the position, Locke will have a solid chance to secure a starting spot should Denver decide to retain him.
Locke played a key role during Denver’s defensive turnaround. After he missed the first four games on injured reserve nursing a toe injury, Locke carved out a significant role while Jackson was sidelined. He played in 69% of Denver’s defensive snaps while totaling 53 tackles, five passes defended and a pair of forced fumbles in 12 games (eight starts).
Locke was a physical hitter, but he added another element with his ability to blitz the quarterback, registering three sacks. He blitzed nine times in 2023, according to Pro Football Reference, second-most by a Denver defensive back behind cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian with 19.
In the win over the Browns in November, Locke used his speed and timing to fly in off the edge and strip-sack quarterback P.J. Walker. The same thing happened against the Chargers in Week 14, when he slipped past offensive tackle Rashawn Slater for a strip-sack of quarterback Easton Stick, who was unaware of the incoming pressure.
“Some guys have a knack for timing and a knack for gaining speed quickly and making left and right turns quickly,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “He has that knack. He hits his target, and doesn’t miss too many opportunities when he blitzes clean.”
Due to Denver’s salary cap situation, it won’t be a big spender in free agency. Re-signing Locke, who earned $1.4 million in 2023, would give the Broncos an impactful player who’s familiar with the defense and won’t break the bank.
Locke signing a one-year deal with the Broncos could be beneficial for him, as well. If he returns and builds off his numbers from 2023, he could set himself up for a bigger payday in 2025.
“When the time comes,” Locke said, “we will think about it.”
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