Four-time Second-Team All-Pro. Justin Simmons is one of the top players available on the free agent market. The 30-year-old is still a capable starter, but Denver couldn’t justify his hefty contract number after incurring a record amount of dead money by releasing Russell Wilson. While some organizations release players in the hopes of eventually signing them to team-friendly contracts, Denver looks to have moved on from the Justin Simmons era. According to the Denver Post, the team is unlikely to resign the free agent.

Broncos Unlikely To Re-Sign Justin Simmons; Free Agent Will Sign Elsewhere.

This report isn’t really surprising. After attempting to make it work with someone else’s roster in 2023, Sean Payton is taking down the Broncos and rebuilding them in his own image. While Justin Simmons has some fine football left in him, he will most likely be past his prime by the time this club is ready to compete. For better or worse, Denver is embracing youth, and it’s time to see what the next generation can do in Simmons’ shoes.

Additionally, Denver’s outward activities indicate that they were never interested in re-signing Justin Simmons as a free agent. The organization has already published a statement praising Simmons for his tenure with the squad and re-issued his jersey number to a rookie. Simmons may not return to Denver, but the veteran should be able to find a fit with one of these five teams.

Possible Destinations:
New Orleans Saints
Dennis Allen must lead the Saints to the playoffs to keep his job in 2024. While General Manager Mickey Loomis has addressed the most of the roster’s obvious needs, the team may still utilize a free agency safety like Justin Simmons. Tyrann Mathieu excels in the box, and Simmons may let the former Cardinal play to his strengths. While New Orleans does not have much spending money, it appears that Simmons will not overspend on the open market.

New York Giants
The Giants lost top safety Xavier McKinney to the Green Bay Packers and intend to replace him with second-round draft pick Tyler Nubin. While the Minnesota product has a bright future, New York might utilize a free agent like Justin Simmons as a temporary starter. Daniel Jones is returning for another season, therefore this club will once again rely on defence to win games. Simmons can provide much-needed over-the-top coverage for a defence that shares a division with CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Terry McLaurin.

San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers feature one of the strongest defensive front sevens in sports. However, if an offensive line can withstand the initial rush, the opposition quarterback will be able to simply target this weak secondary. While money may be an issue, the 49ers may sign a free agent such as Justin Simmons to discourage deep passes and throws over the middle. Perhaps fourth-round rookie Dadrion Taylor-Demerson develops into a starting-caliber player, but they can not expect a Day 3 rookie to make an early impact.

Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs used the 2024 NFL Draft to add offensive talent. While the club needs more young talent, they could also use some aid in the secondary. L’Jarius Sneed is gone, so Kansas City’s safeties will have to work a little harder in coverage. Joshua Williams cannot provide the same lockdown coverage as Sneed, thus a free agent like Justin Simmons would help.

Baltimore Ravens
Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams form one of football’s top safety duos. While this tandem would enough for most teams, the Ravens enjoy playing with three safeties on the field. Justin Simmons is the greatest remaining free agent and a fantastic complement to Hamilton and Williams. The current Ravens are most effective around the line of scrimmage, whereas Simmons can play the role of Geno Stone and patrol the deep area of the field.