NFL writer suggests New York Jets sign free-agent Pro Bowler to upgrade secondary

The New York Jets had an impressive NFL Draft, upgrading their offensive line and adding some more offensive weapons for Aaron Rodgers, but they didn’t address the safety position.

Currently, Chuck Clark and Tony Adams are the two starting safeties in the Jets’ secondary, and while they are both passable, New York could stand to improve at the position.

That’s why Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports is urging to sign Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons, who remains on the free-agent market after being cut by the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason.

Simmons is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 15 games and registered 70 tackles, a sack, three interceptions, a couple of forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight passes defended en route to his second Pro Bowl appearance.

The 30-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Boston College, was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Simmons became a full-time starter by his second season, finishing with 69 tackles, a sack, a pair of picks, five passes defended and a defensive touchdown in 13 contests.

Then, between 2019 and 2022, Simmons accumulated 20 interceptions, topping out at a league-leading six picks in 2022. He made just one Pro Bowl during that span, however, which came in 2020 when he rattled off 96 tackles, five interceptions, a fumble recovery and nine passes defended.

What’s more, Simmons has earned four Second-Team All-Pro selections over the last five years, indicating that he is still one of the top players at his position.

The fact that he remains unsigned is certainly unusual, but it could just be that his asking price is too high, especially in a market that no longer values safeties in the way it once did.

We’ll see if the Jets are able to hook up with Simmons in the coming weeks.