Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman urged the fanbase to be patient this offseason and that it “may look different.”
The reigning Super Bowl champions have had a lackluster start as the new NFL league year begins, losing multiple key contributors to other teams.
So far this offseason, the Eagles lost seven defensive players through free agency and trade. Defensive tackle Milton Williams and defensive end Josh Sweat signed four-year deals with new teams, and Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, Oren Burks, and James Bradberry have all either agreed to contracts elsewhere or are on the open market. The Eagles traded starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in a head-scratching move.
Pro Bowl Safety Justin Simmons Has Eagles High On His List
Two-time Pro Bowl and four-time Second-Team All-Pro safety Justin Simmons recently expressed his interest in joining the Eagles’ top-ranked defense from a season ago. The 31-year-old is one of the top available free agents, and the Eagles have an opening after the Gardner-Johnson trade.
“There’s a lot of good things about Philly,” Simmons said about potentially joining the Eagles in free agency during an appearance on the Talkin’ Ball podcast. “Their offense is clearly one of the most talented in the league, that offensive line is unbelievable. But what the defense did this past season to go win that Super Bowl is crazy. You can tell the leadership there, top-down, is by far one of the best in the league. To have an opportunity to go play in Philly, especially reuniting with Vic and CP, is high on the list.”
The Denver Broncos drafted Simmons in the third round during the 2016 NFL Draft, where he spent the first eight years of his career. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was Simmons’ head coach with the Broncos from 2019-21 and Eagles passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Christian Parker was his defensive backs coach from 2021-23.
Justin Simmons’ Fit In Philadelphia
Reed Blankenship will remain one of the Eagles’ starting safeties in 2025, but his running mate is up in the air with Gardner-Johnson no longer on the roster. Sydney Brown, who has played 414 defensive snaps through his first two seasons in the NFL, is the likely candidate for the job with Tristin McCollum being another option. Brown and McCollum have played mostly on special teams during their young careers, but they’ve also stepped up and logged valuable snaps on defense when needed.
The Eagles could target a safety early during the 2025 NFL Draft such as Georgia’s Malaki Starks, but a proven veteran like Simmons might be the better option for a team looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Simmons is a ball-hawking safety with 32 interceptions across his nine-year career, including a league-leading six in 2022 with the Broncos. He plays well in coverage and is looking to make the playoffs for the first time.
Simmons signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. Some of his numbers were down from years prior, but he’s still one of the top safeties in the NFL. According to Over the Cap and Spotrac, Simmons is projected to sign a new deal worth between $4.3 million and $5.8 million, an affordable price and potential bargain for a player of his caliber.
The Eagles were reportedly interested in Simmons multiple times via trade and after he was released by the Broncos last offseason. The fit and connections are there for Simmons and the Eagles.