An apparent one-and-done with the Atlanta Falcons after eight seasons as a Denver Bronco, safety Justin Simmons is again on the market looking for a team.
Last year, the two-time Pro Bowler took until mid-August to sign a deal, a timeline he'd prefer to accelerate this time around.
"That's always the goal," he said Tuesday on Up & Adams in regards to finding a fit earlier than in 2024. "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."
Simmons still performed with the Falcons despite playing catch-up. He logged 62 tackles, seven passes defensed and collected two interceptions to bring his career total to 32, but he also snapped a a five-year streak of being a Pro Bowler or second-team All-Pro (or both, like in 2023).
Atlanta also fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, forecasting change on the horizon that Simmons understands likely involves a youth movement rather than retaining someone like him.
"At the end of the day, I think highly of Ra (coach Raheem Morris) and (general manager) Terry (Fontenot) and (owner) Arthur (Blank), and I think the organization is top notch," Simmons said. "I do think they're gonna be great. … It was a one-year thing. They like their younger guys, too. Sometimes, things don't work out and you go in different directions. I don't know if the door's necessarily closed, but we'll see."
If not back to the Falcons, where does he go next?
Simmons is heading into his age-32 season, still a great veteran option ranked No. 71 overall in Gregg Rosenthal's top free agents. At this point in his career, he's in mercenary mode and looking for a place to win, having never experienced a postseason game during his nine years of play.
It'd make sense, then, for him to consider the two clubs that just appeared in Super Bowl LIX.
The Philadelphia Eagles could have a need after trading safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans. Plus, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was Simmons' head coach from 2019-2021. Such familiarity might make adding Simmons a little later less of an issue.
"There was a lot of new [in Atlanta]. There was a new system, there was a new way to do it," Simmons said. "Going to Philly with Vic, you know exactly what you're getting out of me and I know exactly what I'm getting out of them because I've been in the system. I still have a ways to go to mastering it, but there are some things and nuances that I know Vic likes, that I know that (defensive backs coach) Christian Parker likes, and I think I could really help in that area. Obviously, them moving on from C.J. and what he's poured into that city there is big shoes to fill, but I love what they have going with (Reed) Blankenship and the rest of the supporting cast there. So I don't know, it's interesting. I'm excited to see what happens."
Conversely, there's also the Kansas City Chiefs, dethroned by Philadelphia after two straight Super Bowl victories.
Such a move could be bittersweet for Simmons after he spent most of his career going head-to-head with them in an AFC West battle lopsided in Kansas City's favor.
"Am I shutting that door? Am I closing it? No, but I want to be the team that beats them," the former Broncos safety said. "I'm not closing that door. I'm not that incompetent to think if Kansas City wanted me to come through, I wouldn't, but I just want to beat them, man."
Wherever he goes, Simmons still has plenty to offer a contending team in need of leadership and production. Now several stages into free agency and with the draft upcoming, pieces will continue to fall into place for teams.
Eventually, Simmons will be one of them.
