Should the Philadelphia Eagles use their remaining cap space to sign this Broncos free-agent safety? The team has had an exciting offseason since day one of free agency. General Manager Howie Roseman has used the team’s cap space to fill out several holes that plagued the roster in 2023. On day one the Eagles made a statement by signing breakout pass rusher Bryce Huff and Pro Bowl-caliber runningback Saquon Barkley.
The team went on to address other key positions of need, especially on defense, throughout the offseason at positions like the linebacking core and the secondary with draft picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. With almost every level of the defense addressed, there still could be room for one more splash signing with a particular free-agent safety on the market.
That free-agent safety is none other than Broncos longtime stalwart Justin Simmons.
This Broncos Free Agent Safety Could Be a Match for the Eagles
Familiar Formula
With the Eagles looking to drastically improve the roster and win their first Superbowl since 2017, perhaps they should look at that team’s defensive model to consider why signing Simmons is a good idea. While both the 2017 and 2024 units have a lot of similarities, in particular continuing to prioritize the defensive line and pushing pressure on the quarterback first, that team had depth in the secondary with two team captains leading the way in safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney Mcleod.
Currently, the team has one side of the safety position figured out in the recently brought-back C.J. Gardner Johnson, but the other side of the position poses a little more uncertainty. They have options in already existing players on the roster like Reed Blankenship and James Bradberry, who recently converted to being a safety, and could even utilize their new rookie Dejean at the position at times. However, Simmons would be an immediate upgrade over any of those names and be a more permanent solution at the position creating more consistency and chemistry on defense.
Why is Simmons an Upgrade?
Simply going off statistics, Simmons is an immediate impact player. He’s a ballhawk safety who has racked up 30 interceptions in his career. He picked off three passes last season and is just two years removed from a career-high six-interception season in 2022. He’s also not afraid to be physical in coverage averaging between 69 and 97 combined tackles between 2017-2023. He’s become a very decorated safety in that time, earning four Second-Team All-Pro nods and two Pro Bowl selections. His latest Second-Team All-Pro selection came this past season despite being 30 years old. Even though his age is a question of concern he has proven he can still produce at a high level.
Simmons also has familiarity with the defensive works of new Eagles Defensive Coordination Vic Fangio. Fangio served as the Broncos Head Coach from 2019-2021. Fangio’s scheme also would serve as a seamless transition for Simmons. According to PhillyVoice, Fangio likes to run a “two-high safety” scheme limiting deep passing plays and settling for shorter completions over the middle of the field.
Philly could also just use a boost in their secondary in general after the unit was ranked the second-worst passing defense in the league last season giving up almost 253 yards per game. The team was also 24th in the league in interceptions.
The Eagles still have money left to spend this offseason with the 10th most cap space in the league at $25 million. Time will tell if they make one more big offseason splash on Simmons.
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