Steelers Week 1 Opponent Keeps Loading Up on Defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, keeps loading up on defense, signing All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.
The Week 1 opponent for the Pittsburgh Steelers continues to look better and better, as the Atlanta Falcons made their second significant move in as many days by signing All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.
Simmons, 30, was probably the best player left on the NFL free agent market when the Falcons snapped him up after a visit on Thursday. Simmons spent his first eight seasons with the Denver Broncos, were he was a four-time All-Pro, a two-time Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in interceptions in 2022.
His signing came one day after the Falcons acquired edge rusher Matthew Judon in a trade with the New England Patriots, significantly bolstering a defense that finished 18th in scoring and 11th in yards a year ago.
Simmons will sit next to Jessie Bates III, who came over from the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent last offseason, giving Atlanta a pair of All-Pros at the position and likely the league’s best group of safeties.
Simmons was released by the Broncos in a salary-cap related move, partially as a result of having to eat an enormous amount of cap space after cutting Russell Wilson, who later signed with the Steelers.
In 2023, he played in 15 games, recording 70 tackles, two for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, eight passes defended and three interceptions. He led the league with a career-high six interceptions in 2022. He has a total of 30 interceptions over his eight NFL seasons.
The Steelers had been considered a potential landing spot for Simmons, but they chose to sign DeShon Elliott instead.
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