The New York Jets could use some more depth at the safety position.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY was asked in a mailbag if we could see another free agent splash signing from the Jets.
“The Jets can certainly make a splash with $22 million in cap space. That’s more than enough to add a player and keep enough in the cache to cover players signed to replace those who land on the injured reserve,” Hughes said. “Safety could be a spot, though. Julian Blackmon and Justin Simmons are both available. The Jets love Andre Cisco. Tony Adams is a little bit of a question mark next to him. He fell out of favor with the upper levels of management a season ago.”
Simmons Would Bring Some Credibility to the Jets’ Secondary
The four-time second-team All-Pro has proven to be one of the best safeties in football during his time in the NFL.
Simmons, 31, still seems like he has gas left in the tank.
He entered the league back in 2016 as the No. 98 overall pick in the third round. Simmons quickly became a starter, and the rest is history. He has appeared in 134 games and has made 124 starts. During that period, he has racked up 32 interceptions, 71 pass deflections, 4.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 666 total tackles.
Simmons played the majority of his career with the Denver Broncos (eight years), and then this past season, he suited up for the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2024, Simmons appeared in 16 out of the 17 games and made an impact. He finished with two picks, seven pass deflections, and 62 total tackles.
This Jets team is among the youngest in football. Simmons could bring some much-needed experience and leadership to a team sorely needing it.
Jets Have a Ton of Question Marks in the Secondary
One starter at safety is written in stone for the Jets: Andre Cisco.
He joined the team this offseason on a one-year, $8.5 million contract in free agency. Cisco, 25, is a talented playmaker coming off a down year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jets are the beneficiary because he is a better player than he displayed in 2024.
However, the opposite safety spot is totally up for grabs.
Adams, an 11-game starter from last season, got benched in 2024 because the Jets’ coaching staff got pressured by ownership, according to The Athletic. The old coaching staff is gone, but Adams is back with the team after signing his one-year, $3.26 million restricted free agent tender this offseason.
Adams originally arrived as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He surprisingly made the roster and quickly rose up the ranks. In 2023, Adams had done enough in a short period to be an assumed starter and got rest during the preseason. That is a role that is normally reserved for the star players or unquestioned starters on the team.
Adams came crashing back down to earth this past season and now must prove himself to a new coaching staff. He is going to make the roster as a third safety, but he has a path to a starting job.
All of that uncertainty creates a potential gig in the starting lineup that Simmons could fill in 2025.
Insider Floats Possible 4-Time All-Pro Signing for Jets