Eagles' next move after minicamp is staring them in the face

There may never be a more obvious free agent signing than what the Philadelphia Eagles are facing before training camp. It's gotten to that point when everyone in the media has linked them together.

The player, of course, is free agent safety Justin Simmons, who is still available to be signed. Simmons has been regarded as one of the top free agents still open to be signed in the NFL.

CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin wrote an article on the best fits for him to play in. Benjamin echoes the same sentiments as everyone links Simmons to play for the Eagles.

"This is the fit that makes all the sense in the world, hence Simmons publicly and repeatedly identifying the Eagles as a preferred destination. Philly could use proven insurance at safety after dealing ball hawk C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, and Simmons played some of his finest football under Vic Fangio, who led the Eagles' defense to a dominant Super Bowl title in 2024. It's difficult to imagine a more ideal short-term marriage."

Why the move makes 100% sense for the Eagles to make

The Fangio effect is hard to ignore. Fangio has a particular type of player he wants for his defenses. He's not looking for a one-trick pony as he needs versatile defenders who can cover and tackle in run support. Simmons is that and more.

He showed that over the last nine years, Simmons' best three-year run was when Fangio was his head coach. Simmons made the Pro Bowl once and was named second-team All-Pro twice. He had 80 or more tackles in each of those three years from 2019 through 2021 and collected 14 interceptions with 36 pass deflections.

Safety is the number one position of concern on the Eagles with Sydney Brown, second-round pick Andrew Mukuba, and Tristin McCollum all fighting for the starting line alongside Reed Blankenship. Brown appears to be the leader right now, but his limited experience in Fangio's defense last year, due to injury, makes it a risky move.

Simmons is 31, which is not necessarily a problem, but the Eagles have been focused on staying young at most of their positions. He would be a short-term solution for the year, honestly, before figuring out if Brown, Mukuba, or McCollum are future starters.

It would be worth it for the Eagles' general manager, Howie Roseman, to explore the cost of renting him for the season. If the team can acquire him relatively cheaply with high incentive bonuses based on performance, as they often do, it could be a perfect match.