Justin Simmons. ERIC HASERT/TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK

Justin Simmons is in no hurry to join the Eagles or any team

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Jul 14, 2024 6:35 PM ET

Free agent safety Justin Simmons would fit perfectly with the Philadelphia Eagles. So what’s the team waiting for? Maybe they're not the ones waiting.

While speaking at an event for the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club, the former Bronco seemed anything but worried about finding a new team:

"This offseason has been such a blessing," Simmons told The Denver Post. "I've had a tremendous opportunity in my eyes to regain some lost moments of hanging out with family, I've got to go to my daughter's dance recitals, and I've got to be home a lot more. All while training and staying ready so I don't have to get ready."

Simmons was a fan favorite with the Broncos and with 30 interceptions and 604 tackles in his career, he still holds tremendous value for an NFL team. After his release from Denver, many assumed he’d follow former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio to Philadelphia.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons says, "Philadelphia’s got a great one," with Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator.

(Via @ReinerOlivia) pic.twitter.com/nxsyMkJeQf
— JAKIB Sports (@JAKIBSports) February 5, 2024

After a disastrous finish to the 2023 season, Philadelphia hired Fangio to be the teams’ new defensive coordinator. Adding Simmons, a Pro Bowl player familiar with Fangio’s system makes sense for the Eagles, but signing now may not make sense for Simmons.

Simmons missed five games with a quad injury in 2022 and two games with a hip injury in 2023. After eight years in the NFL, the 30-year-old safety would be wise to avoid the live fire of training camp practices. More importantly, should any team’s safety go down with an injury, Simmons' asking price will surely go up.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is no stranger to waiting on potential free agents. Midway through the team’s Super Bowl run in 2022, the team added tackles Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh to bolster their defensive line.

Suh finished with four solo tackles and a sack in eight games while Joseph had .5 sacks and 20 combo tackles. Given his relationship with Fangio, it’s not hard to imagine a similar arrangement between Simmons and Philadelphia.

Improving the league’s 31st-ranked secondary was a top priority for Philadelphia in the offseason, and rookie cornerbacks like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean should help but an experienced player like Simmons would be an asset to both as they learn Fangio’s system.

Perhaps that’s why Pro Football Focus named Philadelphia as Simmons’ best option in late March followed by Bleacher Report in late June.

Patience everyone, he’ll get there eventually.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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