The Minnesota Vikings were one of the best teams in the league last season, finishing with a 14-3 record. However, after an embarrassing loss in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, it was clear the team needed to do more to become a true contender. The Vikings responded accordingly this offseason, making several big acquisitions to improve the roster. However, in the NFL, the work is never done.
Minnesota still has room to improve, and that’s why the team was recently named as the best fit for a veteran free agent defender. In a Sports Illustrated article by Gilberto Manzano, he named the best team fit for the 10-best remaining free agents. The Vikings were named as the ideal landing spot for safety Justin Simmons.
Manzano acknowledged that Simmons could replace Camryn Bynum, who joined the Indianapolis Colts in free agency, but also argued that Simmons could help lighten the load for Harrison Smith, who’s entering year 14 at 36 years old.
"The Vikings could use another safety with Camryn Bynum now with the Indianapolis Colts and Harrison Smith possibly needing to play less in his 14th season. It wasn’t that long ago that Simmons made three consecutive Pro Bowls for the Denver Broncos from 2021 to ’23. Simmons, 31, who had a quality lone season with the Atlanta Falcons, can help form a productive safety rotation in Minnesota with Smith, Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus. Solid coverage is a need in Brian Flores’s aggressive defensive scheme."Gilberto Manzano
Vikings named as the best fit for free agent safety Justin Simmons
Simmons also has quite a bit of mileage, entering year 10 at 31 years old. However, the four-time, second-team All-Pro player is still playing elite football, with his last Pro Bowl appearance coming in 2023. In his one season with the Atlanta Falcons last year, he played in 16 games, recording two interceptions, seven pass deflections, and 62 tackles.
Adding Simmons to the back end of the defense will add a bow to a great offseason of defensive acquisitions that also saw the team add guys like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. With the firepower that’s returning on offense, the Vikings should be ready to make some noise.