FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — For the second day in a row, the Atlanta Falcons had a big win — and signaled how serious they are about competing in 2024.
The Falcons announced Thursday that they have signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million contract. Simmons will join fellow Pro Bowl player Jesse Betts III in one of the best safety lineups in the NFL.
On Wednesday, Atlanta traded a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for pressure player Matthew Judon, filling a long-term need. Simmons also fills another. The Falcons lost safety DeMarco Hellams, who started last season, for a “significant” amount of time with an ankle injury, coach Raheem Morris said earlier this week. And beyond Pitts and linebacker AJ Terrell, Atlanta’s defensive line was full of question marks.
Simmons, 30, played his first eight seasons in the league with the Denver Broncos, who released him in March in a salary cap move. He recorded nine interceptions over the past two seasons and was considered the best remaining safety on the free-agent roster. Simmons is a four-time second-team All-Pro selection. He visited the Falcons earlier this week and previously the New Orleans Saints.
Since entering the league in 2016, Simmons’ 30 interceptions are more than any other player.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Falcons are restructuring senior offensive guard Chris Lindstrom’s contract to make room for new deals. Atlanta will convert a portion of Lindstrom’s $12.5 million base salary for 2024 into a signing bonus. Judon is set to make $6.5 million this season, according to the roster management system.
During the offseason, the Falcons bolstered their offense, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract. Now, Atlanta and general manager Terry Fontenot have addressed a defense that entered training camp with question marks after acquiring two big players in two days.
“Come on in. We have a lot of good stuff here in Atlanta,” Betts said Thursday before Simmons signed any of the Falcons’ potential players.