This would be a significant coup…
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Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters can fill one of their remaining needs by signing Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons.
Despite bringing in a plethora of new faces and re-signing a small number of those who were around under the previous regime, the Washington Commanders remain in a healthy financial position. Adam Peters has gone about his business with ruthless efficiency during his first offseason as general manager. This is just the start, but he’s made a tremendous impression so far.
Nobody is getting too carried away, which is wise. Fans know that winning the offseason means absolutely nothing. Fortunately, the Commanders have a legitimate plan in place and a coaching staff that looks capable of nurturing talent effectively. This is a refreshing change of pace – one many anticipated when Josh Harris’ ownership group bought the franchise from Dan Snyder and Peters became general manager.
Letting Kamren Curl walk in favor of the Los Angeles Rams was something of a surprise, especially considering the money involved. This leaves a hole on the backend unless Percy Butler takes a third-year leap. Something Peters could look to resolve via the draft, although there are a few decent veteran options available in free agency as the market quietens around the league.
Commanders named as ideal fit for Justin Simmons
David Kenyon from The Bleacher Report recently named the Commanders as an ideal fit for Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons. He also mentioned the Tennessee Titans, but the writer believes this could be the perfect solution to fill the void left by Curl.
“As the Denver Broncos slashed their salary commitments, Justin Simmons joined Russell Wilson as a cap casualty. The main difference? Simmons is still awesome. During his eight-season run in Denver, Simmons was a consistent force on the back end of the defense. He landed second-team AP All-Pro honors in four of the last five seasons. In what’s become a saturated market at safety, Simmons might become a bargain. The Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders have enough cap space to dole out a more expensive deal, and the latter just lost Kamren Curl to the Los Angeles Rams.”
This would be another eye-catching addition from the Commanders’ perspective. Peters has already convinced the likes of Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner to join the ranks. Acquiring Simmons would be another major coup that further legitimizes the project.
Simmons is still playing at a high level. It’s strange to see a player of his caliber without a home as yet. Perhaps this is about finding the right fit rather than following the money, but the safety market hasn’t exactly been strong en route to becoming the latest position to get devalued.
The Commanders cannot go into the campaign with their current options. Much will also depend on where the coaching staff plans to deploy Jeremy Chinn following his free-agent arrival from the Carolina Panthers. Although listed as a safety, the former second-round pick works better closer to the line of scrimmage. He’s also the sort of athletic specimen Dan Quinn can get creative with, so it’s not hard to see why extra backend assistance might be required.
Simmons is the cream of the crop. A blue-chip player coming off his second Pro Bowl selection. Someone who can come in and not only perform well but also make everyone around him better.
Will Peters pull the trigger? Time will tell…
