Eagles Rumors: Justin Simmons is still being linked to Philadelphia, as it feels like a move right up Howie Roseman’s alley ahead of the 2024 season

With training camp now in full gear, the Philadelphia Eagles are getting a better idea of their roster’s current state, including any holes they may have heading into the season.

This brings us to several trends. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has made notable free-agent signings/trades at the start of each season. This dates back to 2017 when he acquired Jay Ajayi ahead of the trade deadline, which catapulted them to the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. In 2020, Roseman traded for C.J. Gardner-Johnson to cement arguably the NFL’s best roster that year, which just fell short to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Obviously, there have been a bunch of other transactions that didn’t necessarily work out, but they still fit the mold of what the Eagles GM likes to do. Depending on who you ask, the team’s biggest need as of right now may be another safety in that defensive backs room.

Eagles Free Agent rumors are picking up steam yet again

According to Kevin Patra, an NFL writer, he believes that Justin Simmons to the Eagles makes the most sense.

“I went in circles on where to put Simmons. Multiple landing spots make some sense: San Francisco, Indianapolis, back in Denver(!). However, I kept returning to it making too much sense for the Pro Bowl safety to reunite with Vic Fangio in Philadelphia. Yes, the Eagles are sure to say they like their current tandem — C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship — and are testing out James Bradberry at safety.

However, Fangio’s recent comments railing at the perception that the transition from corner to safety is easy. made me come back to a Simmons-Philly pairing. Maybe it’d be a luxury addition — and the veteran’s price tag would likely have to come down — but it seems like an all-too-familiar move for GM Howie Roseman to scoop up an undervalued asset.”

While it may be viewed as a luxury for birds, it fits Justin Simmons’s criteria for a destination.

The #Eagles have the 9th most cap space in the league at $24,649,778.

Free Agent Justin Simmons wants a shot at a ring, stating, “I want to play for a contender, and I feel like I can be the missing piece for a lot of teams to get them over the hump.”

Get it done, Howie. pic.twitter.com/FmYUXQzpas

— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) July 21, 2024

The wild thing about all of this is that Simmons was viewed as one of the best free agents available in free agency, yet he has still not been signed to a new team. Last season, he recorded three interceptions and an impressive total of 70 tackles. Simmons earned Second Team All-Pro honors in four of the last five seasons, showcasing his remarkable consistency throughout these years, even at the age of 30.

Even after all the moves Philly made this offseason and dating back to the reported $24.6 million in cap space they had back in July, they still sit at 10th in cap space this season and certainly have enough to get a deal like this done. As far as how much it would cost to sign Justin Simmons, it appears unknown, but I’d have to imagine the price has come down.

From restructuring several deals, including Jordan Mailata, Darius Slay, Jake Elliot, and Lane Johnson, to extending DeVonta Smith to a new deal, Roseman went to work this offseason, to say the least. Did I mention he signed Saquon Barkley this offseason, too? How does he do it?

This seems to be yet another example of how Eagles GM Howie Roseman could swoop in and sign the safety to a much more team-friendly deal than they would have during the free-agency period.

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