As the offseason slowly approaches its end and the upcoming season is around the corner, teams are looking to make moves that will solidify their hopes of hosting a Lombardi trophy. Recently, sending Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins in a blockbuster trade, the Steelers could be looking to fix the starting safety position. On one hand, they recently signed Deshon Elliot to a two-year extension. However, trading Minkah is a very impactful loss for the defense. Every year, there are a few players who make it very far in free agency, flying under the radar, and end up getting scooped by a team that can make them contenders. All-Pro safety Justin Simmons is currently sitting in the free agency pool. Should Pittsburgh make a move?
Although Simmons, 31, is an aging veteran, he can still produce in a strong defensive system. He’s currently entering his 10th season in the league while playing in 12+ games in each season of his career. Longevity is one of the most important elements of a player’s football ability, and Simmons has shown that he still has a lot of juice left. Excelling in coverage, applying quick reads, and having a high IQ for the game, Simmons would pair extremely well with Elliot and could be the perfect fit to replace Fitzpatrick.
Coming off a one-year, $7.5 million contract with Atlanta, Simmons is only getting older, which will drive his price down even more. Also, trends in recent years lead to the conclusion that there is a time in every player’s career in which they’re ready to put everything they have left onto the field, for whatever amount of money, and give one more shot at winning a Super Bowl. With the right incentive, such as a veteran quarterback, brand new offensive weapons, a historically winning head coach, and a brute, strong defense, the Steelers could grab Justin Simmons for something around a one-year, five-six million dollar deal. Pittsburgh continues to convey its “all-in” mindset for the upcoming season, and signing one more experienced, talented vet to cover the skies could be exactly what they need to bring the Steelers back to glory.
