In what amounted to a cameo performance in Saturday’s 42-28 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings, veteran Darian Stewart was still able to stand out, earning Pro Football Focus’ third-highest ranking among NFL safeties in the league’s opening week.
Stewart, 30, had three combined tackles and a deflected pass in the opening quarter of Saturday’s loss, standing out amongst a defense that allowed a combined 127.1 quarterback rating to Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemian and Kyle Sloter.
The highest graded safeties from Week 1 of the preseason. pic.twitter.com/0MUyWxgKOi
— PFF (@PFF) August 14, 2018
Stewart, along with cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby, are the remaining members of the vaunted ‘No-Fly Zone’ defense that led the Broncos to a Super Bowl championship during the 2015 season, and is expected to anchor the defensive backfield this fall.
Stewart signed a four-year extension after that 2015 season that could pay him a total of $28 million through the 2020 season.