Four-time Second-Team All-Pro Justin Simmons is one of the best players remaining on the free agent market. The 30-year-old is still a reliable starter, but Denver couldn’t justify his high cap hit after taking on a record amount of dead money to release Russell Wilson. While some teams release players hoping to later sign them to team-friendly contracts, Denver appears to have turned the page on the Justin Simmons Era. According to the Denver Post, the team is unlikely to re-sign the free agent.
Broncos Unlikely To Re-Sign Justin Simmons, Free Agent Will Sign Elsewhere
This report doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. After trying to make it work with someone else’s roster in 2023, Sean Payton is tearing down the Broncos and rebuilding the roster in his own image. While Justin Simmons still has some good football in him, he’ll probably be past his prime when this team is ready to compete. For better or worse, Denver is embracing the youth, and it’s time to see what the younger generation can do in Simmons’ role.
Additionally, Denver’s outward moves suggest they were never interested in re-signing Justin Simmons as a free agent. The team already issued a statement thanking Simmons for his time with the team and re-issued his number to a member of the rookie class. Simmons might not be back in Denver, but the veteran should be able to find a home with one of these five teams.
Possible Destinations
New Orleans Saints
Dennis Allen must lead the Saints to the postseason to keep his job in 2024. While General Manager Mickey Loomis has addressed most of the glaring needs on the roster, this team could still use a free agent safety like Justin Simmons. Tyrann Mathieu is at his best in the box, and Simmons could allow the former Cardinal to play to his strengths. While New Orleans doesn’t have much spending money, it appears as though Simmons isn’t going to break the bank on the open market.
New York Giants
The Giants lost star safety Xavier McKinney to the Green Bay Packers and plan to replace him with second-round pick Tyler Nubin. While the Minnesota product has a promising future, New York could use a free agent like Justin Simmons as a short-term starter. Daniel Jones is back for one more season, which means this team will once again need to win with defense. Simmons can help provide some much-needed coverage over the top for a defense that shares a division with CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Terry McLaurin.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have perhaps the best defensive front seven in football. However, if an offensive line can hold up to the initial rush, then the opposing quarterback can easily attack this subpar secondary. While money might be an issue, the 49ers could use a free agent like Justin Simmons to discourage deep passes and throws over the middle. Perhaps fourth-round rookie Dadrion Taylor-Demerson turns into a starting-caliber player, but they shouldn’t bank on a Day 3 rookie making an immediate impact.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs spent the 2024 NFL Draft adding talent to the offensive side of the ball. While the team needed more young talent, they could also stand to add some help in the secondary. L’Jarius Sneed is gone, which means Kansas City’s safeties will need to work a bit harder in coverage. Joshua Williams cannot provide the same lockdown coverage as Sneed, and a free agent like Justin Simmons would help
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best safety duos in football with Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams. While this duo would be enough for most teams, the Ravens love playing with three safeties on the field. Justin Simmons is the best free agent left and perfectly complements Hamilton and Williams. The current Ravens are at their best near the line of scrimmage, while Simmons can take the Geno Stone role and patrol the deep part of the field.
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing – USA Today Sports
