One of the biggest reasons that Simmons likely hasn’t signed is due to money. However, now that Simmons is still on the market without a deal, the Chiefs should be able to get him for relatively cheap.
Another reason Simmons remains on the open market is age. At 31 years old, Simmons is likely only being offered a one-year deal, and that eliminates a ton of teams from the picture.
Teams that aren’t contending aren’t going to have much use for Simmons because he’s not going to be around long-term. That lowers the market and gives him fewer chances.
The teams that will want Simmons are the contenders. With the Chiefs looking for redemption in 2025, they fit that mold perfectly.
Despite having an extremely strong team overall, the Chiefs need help at safety. Between Bryan Cook, Jaden Hicks and Chamarri Conner, there’s a need for Simmons.
Even when looking at Mike Clay’s ESPN positional unit rankings, he has the Chiefs at 31 for their safeties.
It’s clear that an upgrade at that position makes a ton of sense. While Simmons isn’t the same player he once was, there’s a path for him to become a role player with the potential to even earn a starting spot.