It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Eagles have Super Bowl aspirations in 2024. But there is still a legitimate problem at one of the most important positions on Philadelphia’s defense.
Despite the signing of C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, the Eagles have a few question marks at safety. While “CJGJ” is a great safety when healthy, he has missed plenty of games over the last three seasons. Philadelphia’s next two options at the position each missed multiple games in 2023 as well.
Therefore, it’s time for the Eagles to go all-in on free agent safety Justin Simmons. It’s not often that an All-Pro caliber player at a position of need is available in August, yet that’s exactly the situation that Philadelphia finds themselves in with Simmons right now.
Philadelphia Eagles Must Address Questionable Situation at Safety
Following a Super Bowl run in 2022, the Eagles let Gardner-Johnson walk in free agency. Just one year later, Philadelphia signed him to a three-year contract to lead the team’s secondary once again. Yet there is one major concern about the team’s plan at safety.
While Eagles rookie Cooper DeJean is viewed as a potential option at safety, he has yet to play the position in Philadelphia and played just one snap at safety at Iowa. He primarily played slot cornerback and outside cornerback during minicamp for the Eagles. Therefore, it’s difficult to put him in the discussion at safety in 2024.
As of right now, here’s a look at Philadelphia’s safety depth chart:
- Gardner-Johnson
- Reed Blankenship
- Sydney Brown (Active/PUP)
- Avonte Maddox
- James Bradberry
- Tristin McCollum
- Mekhi Garner
- Andre’ Sam
While the first three names on this list are promising, the following four players lack significant NFL experience at safety. Maddox has primarily played slot cornerback in his career, as he has played just 265 total snaps at safety since 2018, according to Pro Football Focus.
Bradberry has played 51 total snaps at safety since 2016, including five snaps at the position over the last four seasons. McCollum and Garner have each played just 17 total snaps at safety, and Sam is an undrafted rookie.
Therefore, it’s clear to see the lack of safety depth on Philadelphia’s current roster. The reason that this lack of experience is so concerning is due to the injury history of the team’s top three options at the position.
Gardner-Johnson has missed 24 regular season games over the last three seasons. He hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year in 2019. While the 26-year-old safety is viewed as Philadelphia’s savior at the position, his availability is a legitimate concern. Although, Gardner-Johnson certainly made it clear that he doesn’t care what anyone on the outside thinks.
CJGJ: Still one of a kind 😤
The Eagles safety spoke to the media after Sunday's training camp practice. pic.twitter.com/1xI0h0Ythy
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 4, 2024
Despite playing just two seasons in the NFL, Blankenship has missed time in each of his first two years in Philadelphia. Blankenship missed a game during his rookie season due to a knee sprain. In 2023, Blankenship missed two separate games due to a rib injury.
Lastly, second-year safety Brown is on the active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered in January. Brown also missed three games earlier in his rookie season due to a hamstring injury.
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In total, Philadelphia’s top three options at safety combined to miss 19 games in 2023. Yet behind those players, the Eagles will be relying on a bunch of unproven question marks to step up at a key position in Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme, especially considering that Gardner-Johnson is already missing practice due to a shoulder injury.
This is exactly why Eagles general manager Howie Roseman needs to pay whatever it takes to bring Simmons to Philadelphia. The team is ready to make another Super Bowl run, and it would be a mistake to let Simmons sign elsewhere in 2024.
Eagles Need To Go All-In on Justin Simmons
As more and more free agent safeties continue to find new homes, Simmons is somehow still available. While many believe his asking price is likely too high, Philadelphia currently has more than enough money to satisfy Simmons’ demands.
According to Over The Cap, the Eagles currently have $25.5 million in effective cap space. Although Spotrac currently has the Eagles with $24 million in cap space available. Regardless, either figure would give Philadelphia more than enough money to sign Simmons.
Despite his potential demands, it’s fair to wonder how much Simmons would actually cost as several other starting caliber free agent safeties have recently signed heavily incentivized contracts with minimal guaranteed money. However, Simmons is clearly the top safety on the free agent market and has the résumé to demand what he wants.
Why the Eagles Should Sign Broncos S Justin Simmons I 2024 Eagles Free Agent Targets
Is Justin Simmons a perfect fit for Vic Fangio and the Eagles defense in 2024?#Eagles #FlyEaglesFly #NFLFreeAgency #JustinSimmons pic.twitter.com/8UEFwg3g9c
— MRCROCKPOT (@mrcrockpot) March 10, 2024
While many have said Simmons had a down year in 2023, his numbers say otherwise. The 30-year-old safety allowed just 324 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in 597 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Simmons also had three interceptions and five pass breakups.
To put Simmons’ “down year” in perspective, let’s compare it to Gardner-Johnson’s stellar performance in 2022 with the Eagles. During his only season in Philadelphia, Gardner-Johnson allowed 288 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 458 coverage snaps. Gardner-Johnson also had six interceptions and two pass breakups.
Therefore, Simmons essentially outplayed Gardner-Johnson in several categories (except interceptions), despite playing 139 more coverage snaps. Simmons was also a more reliable tackler, as he missed 11.8% of his tackles compared to Gardner-Johnson’s 15.8% in 2022.
While there’s no denying Simmons’ résumé and level of play on the field, his availability would be just as important in Philadelphia. The All-Pro safety has missed just 13 games in his eight-year career in the NFL.
There are also two obvious connections for Simmons in Philadelphia, thanks to the team’s hiring of Vic Fangio and Christian Parker this offseason. Simmons has extensive experience working with both coaches due to their time together with the Denver Broncos.
MORE: Philadelphia Eagles Depth Chart
Simmons has publicly praised Fangio, but there are rumors that Simmons and his former head coach didn’t have the best relationship off the field. This could be why the two sides haven’t struck a deal just yet, though the Eagles aren’t exactly strangers to controversial coach and player pairings throughout the team’s history.
As the regular season quickly approaches, it seems like the questions at safety in Philadelphia have only gotten louder. If the Eagles are going to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024, Philadelphia needs to consider pushing their chips all in on Simmons while he’s still available.