The Denver Broncos starting safety duo of Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones will return in 2026, but could it be the final year we see the duo together? As Broncos training camp approaches, the safety room is next under the microscope.

Denver Broncos dynamic safety duo facing pivotal season

Talanoa Hufanga was one of the biggest impact additions last season in free agency, coming over to Denver after showcasing himself as one of the best thumping safeties in the league. Hufanga not only brought more physicality to the Broncos’ defense, but his leadership was instrumental last season.

Hufanga and Brandon Jones were the unquestioned duo going into training camp last year, and watching them learn how to play alongside one another was something that didn’t take long for the two of them to mesh.

That translated into the regular season, where the Broncos primarily showcase themselves in a two-high shell, where both safeties will either play quarters coverage, one of them will drop down into the box for run support, or they’ll match up against tight ends when in man coverage. Even though they play different stylistically, Vance Joseph’s defense requires the safeties to be the strong and free roles inside of the system.

Both players were crucial in providing over-the-top coverage for Denver’s passing defense, which was ranked seventh in passing yards allowed and fourth in touchdown passes allowed.

Toward the end of the season, the Broncos lost Jones to a torn pectoral muscle that kept him out for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs, where Denver ultimately fell short against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Veteran P.J. Locke filled in and did a heckuva job, ultimately landing him a potential starting gig with the Dallas Cowboys.

“I can’t say necessarily what we missed because I don’t want to discredit [Cowboys S] P.J. [Locke III] and what he did for us because he stepped up in a huge way as well,” Hufanga said this offseason. “What Brandon does bring is an energy and the juice. It’s a guy that flies through the wall. I’m telling you—no one understands that he is here at 4:45 [a.m.] every day and he’s legit swimming in the morning. He might be swimming in the pool at like 4:15 [a.m.]. No one realizes those aspects of what a great teammate he is and the character aspect. His energy and the juice and the ability to fly around and be fearless, that’s what he brings.”

The biggest question coming into 2026 is whether or not the Broncos will extend Jones, who is entering the last year of the deal he signed to come to Denver in 2024. If it were up to me, that would be the first deal that gets done during training camp. Having continuity at that position is key, even though the Broncos’ depth at safety is in a good place.

Broncos safety depth is in a better place than years past

Behind Jones and Hufanga, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson, and Miles Scott make up the bulk of Denver’s safety depth coming into training camp.

Key emerged as an All-Pro special teams ace last season and has stepped in countless times defensively over the last few years. Vance Joseph himself had high praise for Key and his ability to step in, noting that he wouldn’t lose any sleep if Key had to start for them.

He returns this season and likely steps into the No. 3 option at the position.

JL Skinner played all of last season with a torn labrum and was one of Denver’s best special teams players alongside Key. He is entering the last year of his rookie deal and has a chip on his shoulder coming into this season.

Skinner has spent this offseason recovering from the injury and turning his training regimen up to what he told me was another level. He’ll be competing in camp for a more pivotal role in the Broncos’ defensive rotation this upcoming season.

Denver’s lone free agency signing was safety Tycen Anderson, who came over from the Cincinnati Bengals. Anderson will compete for a spot in the rotation while facing off against rookie Miles Scott, who the team drafted in the seventh round.

Prediction: Broncos keep five safeties — Hufanga, Jones, Key, Skinner, and Scott on the active roster.