After acquiring wide receiver Adam Thielen on Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings might not be finished making roster moves. One area where the team could still use help is at safety, especially after losing Camryn Bynum in free agency. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has highlighted Minnesota as a top landing spot for veteran safety Justin Simmons.
Knox noted that Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowler, didn’t sign with the Atlanta Falcons last year until mid-August but went on to start 16 games and deliver a strong performance. He recorded 62 tackles and limited opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 81.9. Now, once again unsigned late in the offseason, Simmons remains a viable option for teams looking to boost their secondary.
While Harrison Smith and Joshua Metellus are currently expected to start at safety for Minnesota, Simmons could challenge for a starting role if signed. At 31, he may have lost a step, but his 2024 season was still solid, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2023. Simmons was also named Second-Team All-Pro four times between 2019 and 2023.
The Vikings’ pass defense was a weak spot last season, ranking 28th in the league, and that’s before factoring in the loss of Bynum. Adding Simmons would bring valuable experience and stability to the secondary — he’s arguably the top free-agent safety still on the market.
Minnesota finished 14-3 in 2024 but was knocked out of the playoffs in the Wild Card Round by the Los Angeles Rams. With Sam Darnold leaving in free agency, the team is now turning to rookie J.J. McCarthy at quarterback for the 2025 season. The Vikings will kick off their regular season on Monday, September 8, against the Chicago Bears.