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As the 2025 NFL free agency period progresses, two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons remains unsigned, a surprising development for one of the league’s top defensive backs. The 31-year-old, released by the Denver Broncos in 2024 to save $14.5 million in cap space, played last season on a one-year, $8 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Despite leading the NFL with 30 interceptions since 2016, Simmons is still searching for the right fit, aiming to join a contender before training camp as he told Kay Adams earlier this month on Up & Adams per NFL.com.
"That's always the goal," he said on Up & Adams in signing earlier than last season, "I think, yes, there's pros and cons to training camp. Cons is going through it, your body breaking down, the whole nine, especially as you get older. But a lot of the pros is building that rapport, especially when you're not with the team and you haven't necessarily played with a lot of those guys. I think it would have benefited me to go a little bit earlier. But it also just wasn't in the cards. ... We'll see. We'll see. I want to go to the best situation, and I want to go a team that's gonna win. So, we'll see what that looks like."
His ball-hawking skills make him a valuable asset, but a deep safety class in this year’s draft and his age may be holding up offers.
Simmons’ 2024 stint with the Falcons, despite coming onto the squad late, still logged 62 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended. His ability to play deep, cover tight ends, and contribute in run support fits modern defenses that demand versatile safeties.
Simmons, ranked No. 77 among 2025 free agents by NFL.com, is likely seeking a two-year deal worth $10–$14 million annually, balancing his elite production with market trends for safeties like Harrison Smith ($9 million/year).
The Philadelphia Eagles are a prime destination, especially given Simmons’ expressed interest in reuniting with former Broncos coach Vic Fangio, now Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator. Fangio’s two-high shell safety scheme relies on rangy, instinctive players like Simmons, who thrived under him from 2019–2021, earning three All-Pro nods. The Eagles’ secondary, weakened by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s trade and the unknown possibility of newly acquired Lewis Cine that Minnesota released after just one season, needs a veteran to pair with Reed Blankenship. With $22.4 million in cap space, per OverTheCap, Philadelphia can afford Simmons’ projected $5.7 million annual salary, offering a two-year, $12 million contract with $9 million guaranteed to give depth and rotation to the safety room of their Super Bowl defense.
The Buffalo Bills are sitting with minimal cap space and would have to get creative to make it enticing for Simmons to head to Highmark Stadium. Their secondary struggled in 2024, and they currently sit with only Taylor Rapp and Demar Hamlin on the roster. Sean McDermott’s Cover-2 heavy scheme values safeties who can read quarterbacks and cover deep halves, aligning with Simmons’ 4.6 interceptions per year average. Pairing him with Rapp would strengthen Buffalo’s back end, supporting their AFC contention. The Bills could offer the same type of contract as the Eagles, but would need to leverage their cap flexibility to come up with the right numbers.
The Las Vegas Raiders, with $73.1 million in cap space, present a wildcard option. New head coach Pete Carroll could be looking to revamp and develop a new look to the Raiders’ secondary. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham leans heavily towards running “sub-defense” concepts, meaning he consistently will have five defensive backs on the field at any given time. He is also known for a blitz-heavy defense that needs a center-field safety to clean up over the top, a role Simmons excels in. Adding a veteran to anchor a safety room that managed to only haul in two interceptions all last season would be a huge jump in the right direction. The Raiders could propose a one-year, $12 million prove-it deal, allowing Simmons to showcase his skills for a bigger contract in 2026.
Simmons’ free agency over the past two seasons is a sign of the NFL’s evolving valuation of safeties, but his track record ensures he won’t stay unsigned long. Whether joining the Eagles’ contender, stabilizing the Bills’ defense, or mentoring the Raiders’ youth, Simmons’ next contract could reflect his elite status.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Three teams in need of a ball hawk should look to Justin Simmons
Continue reading...
"That's always the goal," he said on Up & Adams in signing earlier than last season, "I think, yes, there's pros and cons to training camp. Cons is going through it, your body breaking down, the whole nine, especially as you get older. But a lot of the pros is building that rapport, especially when you're not with the team and you haven't necessarily played with a lot of those guys. I think it would have benefited me to go a little bit earlier. But it also just wasn't in the cards. ... We'll see. We'll see. I want to go to the best situation, and I want to go a team that's gonna win. So, we'll see what that looks like."
His ball-hawking skills make him a valuable asset, but a deep safety class in this year’s draft and his age may be holding up offers.
Simmons’ 2024 stint with the Falcons, despite coming onto the squad late, still logged 62 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended. His ability to play deep, cover tight ends, and contribute in run support fits modern defenses that demand versatile safeties.
Simmons, ranked No. 77 among 2025 free agents by NFL.com, is likely seeking a two-year deal worth $10–$14 million annually, balancing his elite production with market trends for safeties like Harrison Smith ($9 million/year).
The Philadelphia Eagles are a prime destination, especially given Simmons’ expressed interest in reuniting with former Broncos coach Vic Fangio, now Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator. Fangio’s two-high shell safety scheme relies on rangy, instinctive players like Simmons, who thrived under him from 2019–2021, earning three All-Pro nods. The Eagles’ secondary, weakened by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s trade and the unknown possibility of newly acquired Lewis Cine that Minnesota released after just one season, needs a veteran to pair with Reed Blankenship. With $22.4 million in cap space, per OverTheCap, Philadelphia can afford Simmons’ projected $5.7 million annual salary, offering a two-year, $12 million contract with $9 million guaranteed to give depth and rotation to the safety room of their Super Bowl defense.
The Buffalo Bills are sitting with minimal cap space and would have to get creative to make it enticing for Simmons to head to Highmark Stadium. Their secondary struggled in 2024, and they currently sit with only Taylor Rapp and Demar Hamlin on the roster. Sean McDermott’s Cover-2 heavy scheme values safeties who can read quarterbacks and cover deep halves, aligning with Simmons’ 4.6 interceptions per year average. Pairing him with Rapp would strengthen Buffalo’s back end, supporting their AFC contention. The Bills could offer the same type of contract as the Eagles, but would need to leverage their cap flexibility to come up with the right numbers.
The Las Vegas Raiders, with $73.1 million in cap space, present a wildcard option. New head coach Pete Carroll could be looking to revamp and develop a new look to the Raiders’ secondary. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham leans heavily towards running “sub-defense” concepts, meaning he consistently will have five defensive backs on the field at any given time. He is also known for a blitz-heavy defense that needs a center-field safety to clean up over the top, a role Simmons excels in. Adding a veteran to anchor a safety room that managed to only haul in two interceptions all last season would be a huge jump in the right direction. The Raiders could propose a one-year, $12 million prove-it deal, allowing Simmons to showcase his skills for a bigger contract in 2026.
Simmons’ free agency over the past two seasons is a sign of the NFL’s evolving valuation of safeties, but his track record ensures he won’t stay unsigned long. Whether joining the Eagles’ contender, stabilizing the Bills’ defense, or mentoring the Raiders’ youth, Simmons’ next contract could reflect his elite status.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Three teams in need of a ball hawk should look to Justin Simmons
Continue reading...
