NFL Rumors: Justin Simmons Visiting with Saints in Free Agency After Broncos Stint

The New Orleans Saints are reportedly set to host veteran free-agent safety Justin Simmons on a visit this week.

Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football was the first to report the news, and it was later confirmed by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra).

Simmons, 30, has spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos, earning two Pro Bowl selections along the way.

Originally a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft out of Boston College, Simmons established himself as one of the best defensive backs in Broncos history.

Over the course of eight seasons, he appeared in 118 games and recorded 604 tackles, 30 interceptions, 64 passes defended and 4.5 sacks.

Simmons is not far removed from leading the league in interceptions and setting a new career high with six in 2022.

Last season, Simmons was among the Broncos' biggest bright spots, recording 70 tackles, three picks and eight passes defended en route to his second career Pro Bowl nod and fourth career Second Team All-Pro selection.

Denver released Simmons in a cost-cutting move in March, as it saved the Broncos $14.5 million against the salary cap.

New Orleans could prove to be an ideal landing spot for Simmons since the Saints have a potential opening across from Tyrann Mathieu in a starting role.

Jordan Howden, who was a fifth-round draft pick last year, is currently penciled in as a starter with Johnathan Abram, Will Harris and others providing depth.

The Saints' defensive coordinator, Joe Woods, was Simmons' defensive backs coach in Denver from 2015 to 2016 and his DC from 2017 to 2018. Also, Saints defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson was Denver's DB's coach from 2017 to 2018.

Signing Simmons would be a win-now move for a Saints team that went 9-8 last season and has not reached the playoffs since quarterback Drew Brees' final season in 2020.