The Atlanta Falcons have added two Pro Bowlers to their roster over the last 24 hours. After completing a trade for Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon, the team is expected to sign free-agent safety Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million deal, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Simmons, 30, was released by the Denver Broncos following a Pro Bowl year in 2023. Over eight NFL seasons, the former Boston College standout has racked up 64 passes defended, 30 interceptions and five forced fumbles.
Atlanta now has two top-level safeties with amazing range on the back end. Jessie Bates III and Simmons are both proven playmakers. The two veteran defenders have 50 combined interceptions between them.
The #Falcons aren’t done working on the D: Two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons is signing with Atlanta on a one-year, $8 million deal, per @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/QHWm708SZB
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 15, 2024
The Falcons lost DeMarcco Hellams for the foreseeable future after he suffered an ankle injury in last Friday’s preseason opener. Fourth-year safety Richie Grant was already on shaky ground as the team’s other starter opposite Bates. Grant will likely now serve as Atlanta’s third safety in a similar role to what Hellams would have played this season.
While Simmons has played primarily at the free safety position for much of his career, the team will have to figure out the best way to deploy its Pro Bowl safety duo this season. However, that’s not a bad problem to have.
If they're about to add Justin Simmons to their defense, the @AtlantaFalcons become VERY interesting. They play a crapton of press coverage — the NFL's highest rate in 2023 — and A.J. Terrell is a top-tier press corner. Jessie Bates is the alpha deep-third guy (only @qdiggs6…
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 15, 2024
