FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – First Matthew Judon, then Justin Simmons. The Falcons front office has been exceptionally busy in the wake of key injuries to outside linebacker Bralen Trice (knee) and safety DeMarcco Hellams (ankle).
On Thursday morning, we analyzed the immediate impact Judon's insertion into the defensive front could have. By Sunday afternoon, we find ourselves doing the same for Simmons and the secondary now that the veteran safety is officially a Falcon.
The courting of Simmons reportedly happened immediately upon the Falcons finding out Hellams' fate. The second-year safety suffered an ankle injury during the Falcons' first preseason game against Miami. Morris said Monday morning that the organization expects Hellams to miss "significant" time. By Monday afternoon, reports were swirling about Simmons visiting the Falcons' facility in Flowery Branch. By Thursday, that visit turned into a more prominent stay with the Falcons signing Simmons to a one-year deal valued at $8 million.
Simmons should immediately join fellow 2023 Pro Bowler Jessie Bates III in the Falcons starting defensive lineup. In theory, this should also allow Richie Grant to play a more specific and rotational role. With Hellams working through an ankle injury, Micah Abernathy still provides depth for the position, too.
The phrase that comes to mind, though, when you think about Bates and Simmons on the field together is "ball hawk."
In 2023, Bates' six interceptions (one returned for a 92-yard touchdown) was the third-best interception total of all players in the league. The year before, Simmons' six picks tied for the lead league.
Bates' has 20 interceptions to his name after six seasons in the professional ranks. Meanwhile, Simmons' 30 interceptions through his eight pro seasons are the most by any player in the NFL since Simmons himself entered the league in 2016.
So, why does this matter for the Falcons now that they join forces? Well…
For adding context, Bates' and Simmons' combined interception total equals 50. Since 2019, the Falcons – as a team – have accumulated 54 totals interceptions.
One could argue the pairing of Bates and Simmons in the Atlanta secondary is one of the best – if not the best – safety duos in the league. In the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2024 list voted on by players in the league, Bates came in at No. 74 while Simmons was a handful of slots later at No. 57.
When comparing Simmons' 2023 tape to that of Bates, you can clearly see how they could complement each other within the same secondary. In fact, what other players say about them separately relates to each other together.
"He knows the defense like the back of his hand," Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb said of Simmons. "He knows every moving piece and how everything is going to happen around him and he puts himself in those perfect positions."
Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson added about Bates: "He's another one who has a great feel for making plays, making interceptions."
From a franchise history standpoint, the Falcons have been known to have strong safety pairings in the past. Namely Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen from 2016-20, William Moore and Thomas DeCoud from 2009-13 and Brian Jordan and Scott Case in the 1990s.
Bates and Simmons have the early makings and expectations of the best pairing yet.
Film review and analytics notes by Will McFadden
As Tori laid out eloquently above, it's easy to envision how Bates and Simmons fit together in Atlanta's defense. The film backs up that belief, as does the advanced analytics compiled throughout each players' respective careers. I'll briefly share some of what I learned after digging in.
What stands out on film review: Simmons is a true centerfield-type player who has the instincts and versatility to fill different roles as required. He primarily lines up on the left side of the defense, and he's exceptional at scanning the entire field while dropping into a high-safety position. It's clear by watching him that Simmons is a very intelligent player. He processes information quickly and communicates effectively to other members of the defense. Simmons has a very good feel for route concepts and can anticipate a receiver's movements while keeping his eyes on the quarterback. This skill undoubtedly plays a role in his ball-hawking exploits. Simmons is a sound tackler with the physicality to match some of the best tight ends in the game in man coverage.
The analytics show a perfect pairing: I dug into TruMedia's analytics database to see just how compatible Simmons and Bates might be on the field. It turns out they would complement each other extremely well. The map below shows the number of snaps each safety has played at various areas of the field. You can see clearly how Simmons favors the left side of the defense while Bates is much more balanced. Moving forward, Bates may play more on the right to allow Simmons his favored spot on the left. But both players have versatility here.
According to TruMedia, Simmons ranks third among NFL safeties with 44 passes defensed since he entered the league in 2016. No. 2 on that list? That would be Bates, who has 47 in that time. Changes to league rules over time have made the middle of the field more accessible than ever for NFL quarterbacks, and offenses have evolved to attack that area of the field. Simmons and Bates operating interchangeably on the back end in what could be an intricately designed defense will make coordinators think twice.
