Justin Simmons Gives Packers Another Pro Bowl Option at Safety

Several starting safeties have been released this offseason, but none are better than Justin Simmons, who the Broncos let go on Thursday.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The list of potential free-agent additions at safety for the Green Bay Packers got even stronger with the release of Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons.

“Automatically one of the top five available,” one scout said of Simmons, who is tied for the NFL lead with 23 interceptions the past five seasons.

Simmons turned 30 in November but that didn’t stop him from earning another season of all-star accolades.

His last five seasons:

2019: Second-team All-Pro with four interception and 15 passes defensed.

2020: Pro Bowl with five interception, nine passes defensed and a career-high 96 tackles.

2021: Second-team All-Pro with five interceptions and 12 passes defensed.

2022: Second-team All-Pro with NFL-leading six interceptions and a career-high three forced fumbles.

2023: Second-team All-Pro and his second Pro Bowl with three interceptions, eight passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

A third-round pick out of Boston College in 2016, he has 30 interceptions in eight seasons. All five career forced fumbles have come over the past two seasons.

When the Packers played the Broncos in Week 7, receiver Dontayvion Wicks completed a pass to Aaron Jones for 14 yards. It was a great pass by Wicks because Simmons didn’t bite.

“Simmons, he’s a really good, smart, heady player,” coach Matt LaFleur said afterward. “I was just watching the deep safety the whole time and he didn’t leave that hash and he sniffed that play out pretty quickly.”

Of his 985 snaps in 2023, 594 came at free safety, 230 came in the box and 144 came in the slot. Of 74 safeties who played 500 snaps, he ranked 43rd in missed-tackle percentage (nine misses; 11.8 percent) and 30th in passer rating (85.9). Of 49 safeties with at least 75 coverage snaps from the slot, he was 11th with 13.7 snaps per reception.

A strong batch of unrestricted free agents has been supplemented by a big group of veterans who have been released. Over the past few weeks, the Bears released Eddie Jackson, the Eagles released Kevin Byard, the Jaguars parted ways with Rayshawn Jenkins, the Saints got rid of Marcus Maye, the Seahawks dumped Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams and the Browns released Jordan Poyer.

Simmons would be a good fit in coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense, a scout said, and he’d fit the team’s culture, too.

Said the Broncos in announcing the transaction: “Justin Simmons' impact as a Denver Bronco extends far beyond his exceptional play during eight seasons with our organization. In addition to growing into an All-Pro and team captain, Justin became our perennial Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year devoted to uplifting others and using his influence for positive change.

“Whether it was in Denver or his hometown of Stuart, Florida, Justin inspired and mentored countless youth while providing unwavering support to the community. The hundreds of hours he spent at the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club will be as much a part of Justin's legacy with the Broncos as his leadership, dependability and many interceptions.”

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