The Minnesota Vikings employ notable safeties Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and recently promoted Theo Jackson.
The Vikings probably don’t need another safety, but that doesn’t stop the NFL masses from spitballing.
On paper, the team doesn’t need much more safety help, but according to SI.com, the club could possibly sign four-time All-Pro defensive back Justin Simmons, who is unsigned as of early June.
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Minnesota has about $19 million in cap space at the moment.
Vikings Should Sign Justin Simmons, Says SI.com
SI.com‘s Gilbert Manzano analyzed the best landing spots for the NFL’s top free agents last week, and for Simmons, Minnesota got the call.
Manzano wrote, “Best team fit: Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings could use another safety with Camryn Bynum now with the Indianapolis Colts and Harrison Smith possibly needing to play less in his 14th season. It wasn’t that long ago that Simmons made three consecutive Pro Bowls for the Denver Broncos from 2021 to ’23.”
“Simmons, 31, who had a quality lone season with the Atlanta Falcons, can help form a productive safety rotation in Minnesota with Smith, Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus. Solid coverage is a need in Brian Flores’s aggressive defensive scheme.”
At the top of his list, Manzano claimed the Atlanta Falcons should sign wide receiver Keenan Allen, among other recommendations.
The Arguable Vikings Safety Need
These are the Vikings’ safeties, with training camp eight weeks away:
- Harrison Smith
- Josh Metellus
- Theo Jackson
- Jay Ward
- Bubba Bolden
- Mishael Powell
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores will keep four or five of those men for the regular season, so Minnesota has no quantity problem.
And truth be told, if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needed another safety, he would’ve signed one already.
Trust in Theo Jackson
Right before Camryn Bynum vamoosed in free agency for the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota extended — and presumably promoted — safety Theo Jackson, a depth defender on deck for his big chance at full-time starter’s duty.
Signing Simmons or any starting-caliber safety would demote Jackson and send him back to square one.
Nevertheless, here’s Simmons’ Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 59.9
- 2023: 67.9
- 2022: 70.7
- 2021: 74.8
- 2020: 77.4
- 2019: 90.7
- 2018: 60.9
- 2017: 74.5
- 2016: 75.3
Skipped Round 1 of the Draft at Safety
The Vikings also had a golden opportunity to fulfill the mock draft community’s plan in April by selecting a safety in Round 1. Georgia’s Malaki Starks and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori were there for the taking, but Minnesota held off and picked Ohio State offensive guard Donovan Jackson with the No. 24 selection.
So, the working theory: If the Vikings needed a Simmons-esque safety in the pipeline, they would’ve drafted Starks or Emmanwori five weeks ago.
49ers as Landing Spot for Simmons
Of course, Simmons landing in Minnesota is unlikely, generally speaking. The San Francisco 49ers, on the other hand, could be an appropriate landing spot, according to Grant Cohn, also at SI.com.
Cohn wrote last week, “The 49ers might have the worst starting safeties in the NFL right now. Malik Mustapha is recovering from his second torn ACL and Ji’Ayir Brown recently had a procedure on his ankle. Which means the 49ers’ starting safeties for Week 1 of OTAs were Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant. Not ideal.”
“That’s why the 49ers could consider signing veteran safety Justin Simmons, who recently was named one of the top remaining free agents in the NFL by Bleacher Report. Simmons had his best seasons playing for Vic Fangio, who runs a much different defense than 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.”
Simmons will turn 32 in November.
Cohn added, “So maybe Simmons is more likely to sign with the Eagles than the 49ers. But regardless of fit, Simmons can’t be worse than Pinnock and Grant. In fact, he’s probably better than Brown as well. Which means Simmons most likely would start immediately and play next to Mustapha when he eventually returns.”
“The 49ers have plenty of cap space. If they’re serious about contending this season, they’ll add a safety early in training camp like they did a few seasons ago when they signed Tashaun Gipson.”
Vikings fans shouldn’t hold their breath on Simmons as a free-agent addition, but if an injury arose this summer, the transaction would make sense.