Side-by-side in front of their strategically placed neighboring lockers stood the Broncos’ stars of the week, rookie safeties Justin Simmons and Will Parks.

The two friends sported wide smiles as they were bombarded by reporters seeking more insight on how they converged for a blocked extra point (Simmons) and game-winning score (Parks) in the Broncos’ 25-23 win over the Saints Sunday.

Ten games into the season, they’re getting more attention for more than just one single splash play, however.

Seven months ago, Simmons and Parks were the eighth and eighteenth safeties selected in the NFL Draft, joining a team with the league’s best secondary. They knew their chances of becoming an immediate starter were almost nil.

“Ninety percent of me was thinking I’m going to have to earn my playtime. These dudes have a lot of talent,” said Simmons, the Broncos’ third round pick. “I remember watching the Super Bowl thinking, man, they’re making the best offense in the NFL look terrible. So when I got drafted my first thought was I have to show these guys I can ball too.”

Simmons did that Sunday and it earned him an AFC special teams player of the week honor for his block of what could have been the game winning PAT by New Orleans.

Parks, a sixth-round pick, wasn’t as worried about the secondary’s talent, knowing he would have to fight to just make the roster, but he has been surprised at how supportive the veterans have been.

“I came into the best situation possible,” Parks said. “I came into a group of guys who aren’t stingy. They want you to eat just as well as they do, if not eat more than they do.”

Parks has developed a special connection with veteran safety T.J. Ward, whom he backs up on defense. Despite the natural competition, Parks said Ward has been more than just a mentor to the rookies.

“They play hard. They got instincts. They got talent,” Ward said. “The best part is they listen. It’s good having those young guys on the team.”

In the draft the Broncos were looking for someone to replace David Bruton, their long-time special teams ace and third safety who left to become a starter in Washington during the offseason. Parks and Simmons, when healthy, have combined to fill that role, each playing just shy of a quarter of Denver’s defensive snaps, primarily in substitution packages.

They’ve made plays on defense as well as special teams. Parks had an interception against Cincinnati and Simmons had a sack against San Diego. They’ve seamlessly merged themselves into a talented secondary high on attitude and talent, but low on tolerance for rookie mistakes. It’s that accountability level that has kept them on their toes. Related Articles November 16, 2016 Broncos Insider: Denver now 7-3, Trevor Siemian just OK, bye week update and more

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“I know there’s a hungry kid that’s in middle school, high school, college who wants to be in the same position that I am,” Parks said. “So I gotta make sure there ain’t a hungrier dog on the field than me, especially on the other side of the ball.”

It’s possible, and maybe even likely, that one or both safeties will become starters as soon as next year.

Darian Stewart’s contract expires at the end of the season and his superb play over his two years in Denver may price him out of the Broncos’ range. Ward has another year left on his contract, but he will be 31 going into the 2018 offseason when his contract expires.

The rookie off-season roommates aren’t worried about their future roles. They’re soaking in the present. They study tape, hang out, and dream of making more big plays.

“If you surround yourself with people that are just like you then you won’t have anything to worry about,” Parks said. “We expect to make plays.”