NW Atlanta News

The Falcons front office has been notably active following injuries to key players, outside linebacker Bralen Trice and safety DeMarcco Hellams. The latest addition is veteran safety Justin Simmons, who joins the team after Hellams suffered an ankle injury during the Falcons' first preseason game against Miami. The organization expects Hellams to miss "significant" time.

Simmons was signed to a one-year deal valued at $8 million. He will join fellow 2023 Pro Bowler Jessie Bates III in the starting defensive lineup, allowing Richie Grant to play a more specific and rotational role. Micah Abernathy also provides depth for the position.

Bates and Simmons are both known for their ball-hawking abilities. In 2023, Bates had six interceptions, while Simmons had six picks the previous year, tying for the league lead. Bates has accumulated 20 interceptions over six seasons, and Simmons has recorded 30 through his eight pro seasons.

The combined interception total of Bates and Simmons equals 50, nearly matching the Falcons' team total of 54 since 2019. This pairing is considered one of the best safety duos in the league. In the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2024 list, voted on by players, Bates ranked No. 74 while Simmons was No. 57.

Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb praised Simmons' understanding of defense: "He knows every moving piece and how everything is going to happen around him." Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson noted Bates' ability to make plays: "He's another one who has a great feel for making plays."

Historically, the Falcons have had strong safety pairings such as Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen (2016-20), William Moore and Thomas DeCoud (2009-13), and Brian Jordan and Scott Case in the 1990s. Bates and Simmons have early expectations of being among the best.

Film review shows that Simmons is versatile with instincts suitable for various roles. He primarily lines up on the left side but can scan the entire field from a high-safety position. His intelligence allows him to process information quickly and communicate effectively with other defenders.

Advanced analytics from TruMedia indicate that both safeties complement each other well on-field positions. While Simmons favors playing on the left side of defense, Bates is more balanced but may play more on the right moving forward.

Since entering the league in 2016, Simmons ranks third among NFL safeties with 44 passes defensed; Bates ranks second with 47 during that period.

The pairing of these two safeties could significantly impact opposing offenses as they adapt to evolving rules that make mid-field attacks easier for quarterbacks.