Dolphins Urged to Target Former 2nd-Team All-Pro Safety

The Miami Dolphins chose veteran Jordan Poyer as a replacement to departed safety DeShon Elliott this past offseason. Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department argued the Dolphins should make a similar move, only this time add a safety with a superior resume — Justin Simmons.

On November 18, Bleacher Report named Simmons the player the Dolphins should add in 2025 free agency.

“Re-signing Jevon Holland should be a top priority for the Dolphins. He’s developed into a good safety who racks up a lot of tackles and has plenty of prime years left,” wrote Bleacher Report’s team. “However, the Dolphins also have a 33-year-old Jordan Poyer manning the other safety spot, so they’ll likely be shopping for at least one starter whether they re-sign Holland or not.

“They don’t need to break the bank for one of the top free agents on the board. However, Justin Simmons has been a solid starter for the Falcons in his age-30 season and could have a little more to give than Poyer.”

In nine NFL seasons, Simmons has made second-time All-Pro four times. He’s also earned two Pro Bowl nominations in 2020 and 2023.

Simmons was a free agent until mid-August this past offseason. So despite his career accolades, he likely won’t have a significant free agent market. Simmons signed a 1-year, $7.5 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons for 2024.

This season, Simmons has posted 40 combined tackles, including 2 tackles for loss with 4 pass defenses in 10 games.

Why Justin Simmons Could Fit With Dolphins

Miami drafted Jevon Holland in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. So they haven’t completely relied on veteran stopgaps at safety in recent years.

But the Dolphins have deployed veteran safeties with Holland the past two seasons. They signed Elliott to a 1-year contract before the 2023 season and then inked Poyer to a 1-year deal this past offseason.

The Dolphins will have to re-sign Holland this offseason, so it would make sense that they look to a cheap stopgap again to play next to him.

Even at 31 years old, which he turns on November 19, Simmons is a safety any defense should want, especially next to a young playmaking safety.

In nine NFL seasons, Simmons has put together an impressive resume across 118 NFL starts. In addition to his post-season accolades, he was tied for the league lead in interceptions with 6 in 2022. From 2019-22, he had at least 4 picks every season.

Simmons has also posted at least 69 combined tackles every season since 2018. He’s on pace to be right near that mark again in 2024.

As far as finding a steady, reliable veteran safety presence, it won’t get much better than Simmons.

Why the Dolphins Might Not Be the Front-Runner for Simmons

A Dolphins-Simmons marriage makes sense on paper. The issue, though, with arguing that it’s going to happen is that it could have occurred this season.

Again, Simmons was a free agent until the middle of the preseason. But the Dolphins didn’t sign him. They inked Poyer at the beginning of NFL free agency instead.

Money could have been an issue. The Dolphins are paying Poyer $5.5 million less than what the Falcons are giving Simmons.

The 4-time second-team All-Pro has the experience the Dolphins need at safety. Miami will likely be able to sign him to a 1-year deal. But not necessarily a cheap one.

It could cost the Dolphins significant money to re-sign Holland. If they aren’t able to, they could potentially use the franchise tag to keep him.

Should that occur, it seems unlikely the Dolphins would then turn around and agree to a deal in the neighborhood of $7 million to bring Simmons to Miami.