Eagles named best fit for two unsigned veteran defensive backs
The first wave of NFL free agency may be over, but many productive players remain on the open market.
While the Eagles have virtually no holes on their roster, they could benefit from adding veterans to a young secondary that lost Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason.
Senior NFL writer Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently released his best team fits for unsigned players, listing Philadelphia as a top landing spot for two defensive backs: cornerback Stephon Gilmore and safety Justin Simmons.
Stephon Gilmore, 34, CB
"Gilmore is the rare cornerback capable of playing man-to-man at a high level into his 30s. Between the Patriots, Cowboys and Vikings, he has played in some of the league's most aggressive defenses. And while he occasionally gets beaten, the now 34-year-old has held his own.
The Vikings only signed Gilmore last offseason after they seemed to realize they didn't have enough at cornerback. He was more than worth their $7 million investment. I wouldn't be surprised if the same scenario happened this year, where a team that looks thin at cornerback and doesn't love what it sees from some of its young guys in camp goes after Gilmore as a plug-and-play solution over the summer."
Ideal landing spots: 49ers, Eagles, Seahawks
Justin Simmons, 31, S
"Simmons became a star under Vic Fangio in Denver, where his range and instincts made him an essential player for the Broncos. He forced 33 turnovers from 2017 to 2023, the most of any player over that seven-year span. Missed tackles have occasionally been a problem, and he benefited from playing next to a star last season in Jessie Bates, but there's always something to be said for having Simmons' sort of experience in a critical role.
I was surprised when the Eagles didn't add Simmons last year, and he has admitted in recent weeks that he'd love to play for the Eagles. With Philly trading away C.J. Gardner-Johnson, there's an opening next to Reed Blankenship in the back end of the secondary. Could Simmons get his wish?"
Ideal landing spots: Eagles, Panthers, Rams
Of the two, Simmons makes more sense. His aforementioned familiarity with Vic Fangio and Eagles DBs coach Christian Parker would make Simmons a seamless addition to the back end.
During a recent appearance on the Talkin Ball podcast, Simmons said he'd be interested in reuniting with his former coaches in Philadelphia.
“There’s a lot of good things about Philly,” Simmons said. “Their offense is clearly one of the most talented in the league, that offensive line is unbelievable. But what the defense did this past season to go win that Super Bowl is crazy. You can tell the leadership there, top down, is by far one of the best in the league. To have an opportunity to go play in Philly, especially reuniting with Vic and CP, is high on the list.”
The Eagles entertained signing Simmons last summer, but his asking price was reportedly too high, and the front office pivoted to Gardner-Johnson. Simmons later signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Falcons, where he recorded 62 total tackles, seven passes defended, and two interceptions.
As for Gilmore, third-year cornerback Kelee Ringo appears primed for the starting outside job opposite Quinyon Mitchell in Philadelphia. Gilmore could likely find more playing time elsewhere, especially after the Eagles signed Adoree' Jackson last week.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles named best fit for Stephon Gilmore and Justin Simmons
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