On Tuesday morning, NFL Network’s James Palmer reported that Philadelphia Eagles safety Will Parks was released.
Parks was originally drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, alongside fellow safety Justin Simmons.
Despite being a sixth-round draft pick, Will Parks made an instant impact on a squad one year removed from a legendary Super Bowl run. He appeared in 15 games and on 24.5% of the team’s defensive snaps, and even registered his first career interception.
He continued to make an impact on the Denver defense through the next three seasons and he played a major role in Vic Fangio’s defense. Fangio loves utilizing three safeties and Will Parks was a perfect do-it-all option that could blitz, play the run, play over the top and even drop into the slot and play cornerback when the Broncos were desperate.
Even beyond his on-field impact, Parks made a large off-field impact as a vocal leader of the locker room and someone who was always willing to speak to the media.
This past off-season, after his contract expired and he became a free agent, his market was shockingly cold and he ended up signing a one-year deal worth $1.5 million dollars with his hometown Eagles.
Unfortunately, Parks’ move back to Philadelphia didn’t go as planned. Before the regular season started, he injured his hamstring and landed on injured reserve. He returned in Week 6 and had a prominent role for three games, but then the Eagles almost entirely removed him from their defensive gameplan after their bye week.
Three weeks later, and here we are. So should the Broncos bring Parks back?
ABSOLUTELY.
Reason No. 1: Depth at safety and cornerback is incredibly shaky and Parks could immediately upgrade both areas at a cheap price.
Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson form an incredible starting tandem, maybe the best in the league, but the Broncos would be in an awful position if they had to ask any of the players behind those two to start.
Maybe the Broncos feel confident in Duke Dawson’s ability and like what he’s done to replace Parks this season, but Alijah Holder, P.J. Locke and Trey Marshall are special teamers at best. Dawson hasn’t been a liability this year but his impact on the defense is dwarfed by what Parks provided in even his worst season in Denver.
At cornerback, the Broncos are now down their best cornerback, Bryce Callahan, for an extended period of time. For as long as Callahan is out, the Broncos will have to rely on two of Essang Bassey, a promising yet raw rookie undrafted free agent corner; Michael Ojemudia, another promising rookie, but one that was recently and reasonably benched; and De’Vante Bausby, who has played well, but has also been cut three times by two different teams over the last three months.
Adding Will Parks to the mix, who played well last season in his 234 snaps at cornerback last season, certainly couldn’t hurt.
Reason No. 2: The Broncos long-term future at safety, from starters to depth, is currently in question and Parks would operate as a marvelous insurance policy.
While unlikely that Justin Simmons leaves this off-season, it’s certainly possible that he does just that, which would leave the Broncos with nothing at a position which is currently the greatest strength of their defense.
Also, for what it’s worth, Parks and Simmons have an incredibly close relationship, so bringing Parks back, could potentially further improve Denver’s odds of retaining Simmons.
Across from Simmons you have Kareem Jackson whose conract expires after the 2021 season, so you’ll have to replace him soon, but ‘soon’ might come this off-season as the Broncos would stand to save $10 million dollars against the cap by moving on from him. That’s a lot considering all the names the Broncos will want to retain this spring.
And, as pointed out in the first reason, the Broncos have no one behind those two to fill those potential voids if one or both leaves the team this off-season.
Parks has the versatility to fill in for either, though replacing Jackson is certainly more likely.
Reason No. 3: He would check all those boxes at an incredibly cheap rate.
Remember, the deal he signed this off-season, coming off four fantastic years in Denver, was a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.
Since then, he’s appeared in six games, played 114 snaps, recorded nine tackles, and missed five games with a hamstring injury. It’s hard to see that causing his value to skyrocket, so Denver could probably sign him, and then re-sign him this off-season at a very cheap rate.
In doing so, they’d be adding a known commodity, familiar with the system, at an incredible bargain, who could fill multiple positions of need on defense, provide an insurance policy, and upgrade Denver’s awful special teams unit.
Can you say, no brainer?