Ex-Steelers WR Renders Bold Justin Simmons Prediction

Where will the former Denver Broncos defensive captain land?

Oct 12, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons (31) warms up against / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

As hard as it was for the Denver Broncos to release Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons last month, it wasn’t surprising. Nobody was particularly happy about it, but everyone realized the move was an expensive cap ramification of Russell Wilson’s departure from Denver. 

Simmons and Wilson played the last two seasons together as teammates, and now there’s growing buzz that the duo could reunite as Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown's news network, CTESPN, reported that Simmons is "leaning towards" signing in Pittsburgh.

“Justin Simmons is leaning towards signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Deal should be done soon," CTESPN reported on Monday.

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Brown, who was a sixth-round pick by the Steelers in 2010, hasn’t played in the NFL since his unusual departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. Collective eye roll aside, Brown’s infamous loose-cannon personality directly led to his NFL career being cut short amid fallouts between teammates and multiple organizations. 

Still, ‘AB’ got Wilson’s signing with Pittsburgh right and also nailed the Stefon Diggs trade. If proven true, Brown's latest forecast would feature a Steelers defensive backfield with both Simmons and current All-Pro and Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick

Simmons is coming off an impressive season, where he played in 15 games and recorded 70 tackles, eight pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one sack and two tackles for a loss. The 30-year-old Boston College alumni is one of the most experienced defensive backs in the league having played in 118 games with 108 starts since 2016.

While the safety position has been significantly undervalued on the 2024 free-agent market, it’s not crazy to think that Simmons will command legitimate interest from AFC contenders sooner or later. However, it’s important to note that the Steelers currently possess the highest-paid defense in the NFL, which could make luring an accomplished veteran like Simmons difficult. 

The former Broncos team captain was franchise-tagged for two consecutive years before Denver awarded Simmons with a four-year, $61 million contract extension in 2021. He was pivotal in snapping the Kansas City Chiefs' 16-game winning streak against the Broncos last season, with two tackles, a fumble recovery, and a fourth-quarter interception, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. 

Could Simmons be en route to a franchise with a dominant defensive pedigree like Pittsburgh? 
Or is Brown just pulling our leg? 

We'll know soon enough.

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