The New York Giants lost top-flight safety Xavier McKinney to the Green Bay Packers in free agency, opening up a fairly big need at the position.
The Giants responded by signing defensive back Jalen Mills, but Mills is probably more of a depth type of guy than a legitimate full-time starter at safety.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine feels that New York should pursue Justin Simmons.
Simmons was cut by the Denver Broncos before free agency and is yet to find a home in spite of the fact that he is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he registered 70 tackles, a sack, three interceptions, a couple of forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight passes defended en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
The 30-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Boston College, was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He became a full-time starter as soon as his second season, recording 69 tackles, a sack, a pair of picks, five passes defended and a defensive touchdown in 13 games.
Simmons didn’t really begin to get recognition until 2020, however, when he posted 96 tackles, five interceptions, a fumble recovery and nine passes defended en route to his first Pro Bowl nod.
Between 2019 and 2022, Simmons accumulated 20 interceptions and led the league with six picks during the latter campaign.
He has also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in three straight years and four of the last five seasons.
The Giants’ passing defense ranked a very pedestrian 19th in the NFL in 2023, and that was with McKinney patrolling the backfield.
With McKinney gone, New York is going to have to find a solution in its secondary, and bringing in someone like Simmons may be the answer.
That being said, Simmons may want to sign with a contender at this stage of his career.
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