Eagles may not need to waste money signing Justin Simmons to boost young secondary
It was reported this week that veteran safety Justin Simmons wants to join the Philadelphia Eagles, but signing the four-time All-Pro safety to a one-year deal might not be worth the time and money. Sure, the Eagles will be on the search for who steps up in place of C.J. Gardner-Johnson this fall, however, they […]
It was reported this week that veteran safety Justin Simmons wants to join the Philadelphia Eagles, but signing the four-time All-Pro safety to a one-year deal might not be worth the time and money.
Sure, the Eagles will be on the search for who steps up in place of C.J. Gardner-Johnson this fall, however, they likely already have the answer on their roster as we speak.
To begin with, third-year safety Sydney Brown is anticipated to be fully recovered this offseason after tearing his ACL during his rookie year.
Before hurting his knee, Brown made a solid impact in his rookie season with the Eagles. He played in 14 games and started six, recording 45 total tackles (30 solo), one interception, three pass deflections, and one forced fumble. He also led the team with seven special teams tackles, ranking among the top 10 NFL rookies in that category. His pick-six for 99 yards against the Arizona Cardinals was the longest in Eagles history and the first time a rookie had done that since 2015. Brown's strong start showed he had the skills to make big plays both on defense and special teams.
The Eagles also have rookie Andrew Mukuba, a second-round pick from Texas in 2025, to look forward to. Mukuba, a standout safety with great ball skills and instincts for the Longhorns, brings versatility to the secondary.
Similar to Gardner-Johnson, Mukuba has the ability to play in different spots in the secondary, whether it’s lining up at deep safety or in the slot. With some time to adjust, he could definitely become a solid contributor. However, it could take a bit before he steps into Gardner-Johnson’s leadership role and has the same immediate impact, but he certainly gives Brown some friendly competition this offseason.
Mukuba makes the jump to the NFL following a dominant 2024 season at Texas, where he racked up 69 tackles, 12 pass breakups, five interceptions, and a forced fumble.
If Mukuba adapts well to the NFL — and with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as his coach, he’s in great hands– and Brown bounces back to his rookie form, signing Simmons might not be a necessary move for Philly.
