The New Orleans Saints hosted free agent safety Justin Simmons on Wednesday during practice. The two sides have not come to an agreement, but both the player and the team have interest in each other. Dennis Allen said that the two sides have had conversations for months.
The Saints do have a couple of key advantages in trying to sign the Pro Bowl defensive back.
Saints DB Will Harris went to college with Justin Simmons
Accordingly, Harris knows Simmons well. They are very good friends, and that connection could help Simmons choose New Orleans. Harris projects to be a backup DB for the Saints in 2024, and he will play an impactful role on special teams.
Getting Simmons in the boat would be massive for the Saints. Their secondary gets much more talented with the addition of a top ten safety in football. A duo of Simmons and Mathieu may be the best in the entire NFC - if they play to their potential together.
Simmons knows some Saints coaches quite well, too. That can play a role in trying to pick him up.
Justin Simmons has connections already with Saints staff
Joe Woods was Simmons' position coach with the Denver Broncos for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He is now an assistant for the Saints. Woods also scouted Simmons during his draft prospect process in 2016.
Marcus Robertson is the Saints’ current defensive backs coach. He spent time with Woods and Simmons in Denver as well. Those are two key connections on the Saints staff that may help New Orleans land him.
The need is clear for New Orleans. Adding a safety the caliber of Simmons would be a true game changer for the Saints defense in 2024.
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