Veteran safety Justin Simmons is the latest addition to the Atlanta Falcons’ secondary, inking a one-year, $8 million deal with the franchise. The information came from Jordan Schultz of NFL Insider, who acquired Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots, a star pass rusher by the Atlanta Falcons.

All-Pro second team selection for four occasions and two-time Pro Bowler, Simmons has played all eight seasons with Denver Broncos since being picked as third overall in 2016 draft. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, it released him on March 7th to free up $14.5 million against the salary cap.

He’s been known for playing support against the run, breaking passes, and creating turnovers. He recorded seventy stops, broke up eight passes, made three interceptions, forced two fumbles, and recovered one fumble, including making one sack in the just concluded 2023 season. A year earlier, he had led the NFL in picks by six.

A New Chapter Begins

His joining will mean experience and leadership for Atlanta’s backfield, which was a significant gap that his signing has filled. In these last few days, Simmons and Judon have joined the team, showing how determined they are to strengthen their defense before next season commences.

The signing of Simmons and Judon indicates Atlanta’s determination to boost its defensive capabilities for the year ahead. The advent of Simmons means that the Falcons’ secondary will be much stronger, with possible consequences for victory or loss as they hope for playoffs in 2024.