{"id":238301,"date":"2025-06-30T15:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T19:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=238301"},"modified":"2025-06-30T14:19:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T18:19:10","slug":"steelers-should-sign-coveted-safety-after-blockbuster-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/06\/30\/steelers-should-sign-coveted-safety-after-blockbuster-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers Should Sign Coveted Safety After Blockbuster Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a blockbuster trade today, sending safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Dolphins. In return, they received defensive back Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.<\/a> While this deal adds star power at cornerback and brings in another weapon on offense, it leaves a major hole at the safety position. That\u2019s exactly why Pittsburgh should sign veteran free agent Justin Simmons<\/a> right away.<\/p>\n

Steelers Should Sign Safety Justin Simmons After Blockbuster Trade<\/h2>\n

Steelers Have Deshon Elliott and Juan Thornhill, But Should Still Sign Justin Simmons<\/h3>\n

With Fitzpatrick gone, the Steelers will lean on Deshon Elliott and Juan Thornhill at safety. Both are capable players, but neither offers Fitzpatrick\u2019s elite playmaking ability or range. Justin Simmons is still one of the league\u2019s top ballhawks and would immediately lift the Steelers<\/a> secondary. Pittsburgh\u2019s elite pass rush, led by T.J. Watt<\/a>, Cam Heyward, and Alex Highsmith, forces quarterbacks into mistakes and bad throws. Having a true ballhawk free safety like Simmons behind that front would maximize those turnover chances even more. At 31, Simmons should still have plenty left in the tank. Pittsburgh could likely sign him on a one-year deal at a reasonable price. It is clear the Steelers are going all in this year, especially after signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers<\/a>. Simmons has the experience and instincts to thrive in a defense built on forcing turnovers and making big plays.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons (31) intercepts a pass indended for Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Simmons is a Two-Time Pro Bowler with Proven Production<\/h3>\n

Justin Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the NFL\u2019s most respected veteran safeties. Last season in Atlanta<\/a>, he proved he can still produce, recording two interceptions, 36 solo tackles, and seven passes defensed in 16 games. His combination of leadership and ball skills would instantly help stabilize a Steelers secondary that now features Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Joey Porter Jr, but lacks an elite free safety.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: [Brett Davis] – USA Today Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Steelers should sign Justin Simmons after trading Minkah Fitzpatrick, adding an elite veteran safety to stabilize their defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5513,"featured_media":238324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,4,9],"tags":[730,1958,5455,89,3357,81],"class_list":["post-238301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-news","category-dolphins","category-steelers","tag-jalen-ramsey","tag-jonnu-smith","tag-justin-simmons","tag-miami-dolphins","tag-minkah-fitzpatrick","tag-pittsburgh-steelers"],"modified_by":"Michael Zimmelman","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5513"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238301"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":238325,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238301\/revisions\/238325"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/238324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}