Broncos using franchise tag on Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons again

The saga involving the Denver Broncos and Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons is progressing down a familiar and expected path. 

Per Kevin Patra of the league's official website, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Broncos will place the franchise tag on Simmons on Friday. Stories surfaced last week that the Broncos would franchise tag the 27-year-old for the second consecutive year. 

Rapoport said in late February that the Broncos would "like to get a new long-term deal done with Simmons," and it appears that remains the case.

"Justin's one of our core guys, and our goal since I got here [has been] to sign him to a long-term deal," Denver general manager George Paton said on Thursday, according to Aric DiLalla of the club's website. "We've had good discussions with his agent. I don't know if we'll get a deal done or not, but that's our goal. He's the type of guy we want to extend."

Simmons made his first Pro Bowl appearance this past season after he recorded 96 total tackles and nine passes defended. He would earn a guaranteed base salary of approximately $13.729 million under the tag if he and the Broncos don't agree to a contract by July 15.