The strongest part of the NFL’s best defense last season was its cornerbacks and safeties.
As rookies, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean forged one of the league’s most dominant cornerback tandems for the Eagles’ defense, and Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson were a good safety duo.
Philadelphia’s 2024 secondary, which allowed the lowest amount of passing yards per game (174.2) in the NFL, shut down quarterbacks, including in the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, holding superstar Patrick Mahomes to 257 yards.
The defense’s biggest strength this season could be its linebackers or defensive linemen, with the secondary losing two key players (cornerback Darius Slay and Gardner-Johnson) during the offseason.
If second-round draft pick Drew Mukuba and third-year player Sydney Brown struggle to replace Gardner-Johnson’s production, the Eagles’ safeties could become a weakness, hurting the defense.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman could solve their potential safety problem by adding former All-Pro Justin Simmons, who could be a solid starter next to Blankenship.
During an appearance with 97.5 The Fanatic last week, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said the Eagles are “on the shortlist” for Simmons, mentioning the safety’s connection to Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Last offseason, many expected the Eagles to target Simmons, who made two All-Pro teams (2019-2021) under Fangio, his former head coach with the Denver Broncos. But instead Roseman opted to sign Gardner-Johnson to a three-year contract, and Simmons later joined the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal, starting 16 games in his ninth NFL season.
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said last month on NFL Network that Simmons wants to play for the Eagles, and according to Fowler, the interest is mutual.
If Fangio doesn’t believe Mukuba or Brown will be a good starter this season, adding Simmons would make sense.
Simmons ranked 113th out of 171 NFL safeties last season, according to Pro Football Focus, but he’s comfortable playing in Fangio’s scheme so he could be more productive with Philadelphia.
If Simmons became a serviceable starter for the Eagles’ defense, allowing them to slowly bring along Mukuba, that would be a great outcome.
Simmons could fortify Philadelphia’s secondary in 2025, and he would be a good mentor to the team’s younger defensive backs.
The Eagles may wait until training camp before considering signing Simmons or another veteran safety, letting the competition between Mukuba and Brown play out. If both of them perform well, there would be no reason for Roseman to sign Simmons.
“It’s a competition that is going to take a training camp and a few preseason games to sort out. And safety Tristin McCollum (is) in that, too,” Fangio told reporters earlier in June.
Mukuba, the front runner to win the starting job, could dissuade the Eagles from pursuing Simmons by proving to Fangio that he’s ready to make an instant impact — like Mitchell and DeJean were able to do last year. He could quickly adjust to the NFL, with many of his past coaches praising his football intelligence, toughness and coverage skills.
In 15 appearances for Texas last season, including three playoff games, Mukuba amassed 69 tackles, five interceptions and one forced fumble. The undersized safety (5-11, 186 pounds) could amass similar production in his first NFL season, developing into the ballhawk the Eagles need after losing Gardner-Johnson, who grabbed six interceptions in 2024.
Simmons was once an elite playmaker, amassing 23 interceptions during his All-Pro run (2019-2023), but he only snagged two picks last year. He’s a safer option than Mukuba and Brown, but he doesn’t offer as much upside.
Although the fit between the Eagles and Simmons is easy to imagine, Roseman shouldn’t be in a hurry to sign him, though it’s possible Simmons signs with another team soon.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Cayden Steele may be reached atCSteele@njadvancemedia.com