One of the biggest winners of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason? How about special teams ace Theo Jackson, who by virtue of elimination could be poised for an increased role on defense in Minnesota’s safety room.
The Vikings lost one of their top 2025 free agents in Camryn Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts, and to the surprise of many, opted against replacing him either in free agency or the draft.
As it stands, Minnesota will run it back with Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus, with Jackson and 2023 fourth-round pick Jay Ward competing for the No. 3 spot. When you consider three safeties — Smith, Bynum and Metellus — all ranked among the Vikings’ top four defensive players in total snaps last season, you see how important depth at this position is in Brian Flores’ scheme.
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano doesn’t see the team standing pat at safety. He predicts the Vikings will sign veteran free agent Justin Simmons, a former 4-time All-Pro of the Denver Broncos who spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons:
The Vikings could use another safety with Camryn Bynum now with the Indianapolis Colts and Harrison Smith possibly needing to play less in his 14th season. It wasn’t that long ago that Simmons made three consecutive Pro Bowls for the Denver Broncos from 2021 to ’23. Simmons, 31, who had a quality lone season with the Atlanta Falcons, can help form a productive safety rotation in Minnesota with Smith, Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus. Solid coverage is a need in Brian Flores’s aggressive defensive scheme.
Simmons has stated a desire to reunite with former head coach Vic Fangio and the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, but the Vikings would make sense as well as their third safety. Minnesota has a need at defensive back overall, but GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prioritized the trenches in free agency, and the Vikings were limited in the draft due to a lack of 2025 capital.
It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Vikings add a cornerback — both Stephon Gilmore and Shaw Griffin are still available — or safety this summer. Now entering his age-32 season, Simmons is clearly biding his time and waiting for the right opportunity.
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Simmons has never really been a role player is his career, and he started 16 games for the Falcons in 2024. If he’s willing to sign a cheap, one-year deal to help solidify a potential Super Bowl roster, Simmons to the Vikes could make some sense come training camp time.
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