Falcons FA Justin Simmons Says Eagles are 'High on the List' in 2025 NFL Free Agency

After the Philadelphia Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, Justin Simmons is looking at the reigning Super Bowl champs as a potential landing spot in free agency.

Appearing on the Talkin' Ball podcast with Pat Leonard (starts at 7:30 mark), Simmons said the Eagles are "high on the list" of teams he would have interest in joining.

Gardner-Johnson, who started 16 games for Philadelphia last season, was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green. The two teams also swapped late-round picks in the 2026 draft.

Any potential interest the Eagles might have in Simmons could come down to cost. John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia noted Philadelphia is trying to keep as much money available to lock in its core players.

There is also a possibility the Eagles want to give Sydney Brown, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft, a chance to prove he can be a starter at safety going forward.

Simmons has plenty of familiarity with key members of the Eagles defensive coaching staff from his time with the Denver Broncos. Vic Fangio was his head coach for three seasons from 2019 to '21.

Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker previously served in the same role for the Broncos from 2021 to '23. Simmons was named to the All-Pro second team four times in five seasons from 2019 to '23.

Simmons spent the 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a one-year deal in August. He recorded 62 combined tackles and ranked third on the team with seven pass breakups.

The Eagles don't really need Simmons right now given how strong their defense is, but it never hurts to have too much depth in the secondary if that's a direction they decide to go in. His familiarity with their coaching staff could give them a leg up if they want to pursue him.