Here are three possible landing spots for the best available safety and former Denver Bronco, Justin Simmons this offseason. It’s surprising to see that one of the best remaining free agents is still on the market before the NFL Draft. Despite two Pro Bowls, four All-Pros and 30 career interruptions, he hasn’t had many offers or visits. Simmons is limited to who he could potentially sign with since most teams in the league are focused on the draft this month.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were on the verge of signing Simmons but they added DeShon Elliott from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. This means the team is out of the sweepstakes for the Pro Bowler. According to a report, the team is moving forward with Elliott, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee. Simmons is coming off a season in which he finished 70 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defended.
However, he could contribute to any defense, especially to those who need safety help with his versatility and talent. He notched a career-high 97 tackles in 2018 and six interceptions in 2022. The only thing that’s stopping the Steelers from making the deal happen is the asking price. However, other teams after the draft could pay the right price, bringing in one of the best available.
The duo between Fitzpatrick and Simmons would have been formidable but the two are far from an agreement. The free agent market is still flooded with talent that could be cheaper than Simmons. However, Simmons’ release has been one of the more surprising releases in the league this offseason as many talking heads were reacting. Here are three possible landing spots for Simmons.
Three Possible Landing Spots for Best Available Safety Justin Simmons
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have been quiet since trading away their superstar cornerback, L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans. However, this all can change if the Chiefs want to bring in someone like Simmons to reignite their star power at Arrowhead. The only thing that’s stopping them is their financial situation after nearly releasing one of their best defensive stars this year. Simmons should be in the position in his career to be ring-chasing with the resume he has.
The Chiefs are a perfect fit as the back-to-back champions but it would be a mutual deal between the two. Kansas City probably won’t be the same team as they were the last two years so adding Simmons could pave the way to add veteran experience. Whoever the Chiefs get in this year’s draft still may need a veteran to mentor them. The market value is affecting many available free agents so the Chiefs could probably wait before this upcoming season begins.
This works in many teams like the Chiefs’s favor so they wouldn’t pay a hefty price. Instead, they could pay them on a low-budget cost on a one-year contract.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are lacking depth in their safety room despite having Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton as All-Pro Talents. There’s no such thing as too much talent on one team, and that means Baltimore should probably load up. The Ravens are stocking up on their offense but it’s defenses that win championships at the end. Geno Stone moving on to AFC rival, Cincinnati Bengals shows that the Ravens should keep adding to their defense.
It would be enticing for Simmons to sign a cheap contract with the team if it means the possible idea of winning a ring. However, if the two sides can’t agree then it would probably be wise to focus on this year’s draft.
Los Angeles Chargers
The only thing that is stopping the Chargers from getting someone like Simmons is their salary cap issues. However, adding Simmons would help the secondary after a struggling 2023 season campaign. He could be a nice addition to mentor Chargers starting safety Alohi Gilman and step in to relieve the workload. The thought of Simmons and Derwin James on the same team sounds like a scary sight for the rest of the AFC.
