One day after trading for Matthew Judon, the Atlanta Falcons have further strengthened their defense by signing experienced top safety Justin Simmons. The deal is for one year and is worth $8 million, of which $7.5 million is guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport.

Simmons spent two days with the Falcons and also had dinner with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and cornerback AJ Terrell.

The Falcons were looking to bolster their secondary after DeMarcco Hellams was injured in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Simmons should step in and make an immediate impact, and the Falcons will have potentially one of the best safety duos with him alongside Jessie Bates III.

The Falcons strengthen their defense with additional players

The Atlanta Falcons invested heavily in their offense this season, signing Kirk Cousins ​​and Darnell Mooney and trading for Rondale Moore. To improve their offensive future, they selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. In other words, the offense had nothing to fear, but the defense had some questions.

The Falcons defense was a good unit last year, but they’ve lost and gained pieces this season. Grady Jarrett, AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates III lead the defensive group, but the pass rush still had some things that needed to be addressed. After third-round pick Bralen Trice suffered a torn ACL in the season opener, it was imperative that the Falcons add depth to their defensive line.

Not only did they add depth, but they also acquired a four-time Pro Bowl player in Matthew Judon in exchange for a third-round pick. Judon had a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022 and 12.5 sacks in 2021. In 2023, Judon only played in four games due to a bicep injury.

With their improved offense and defense, the Falcons have a chance to be one of the top teams in the NFC.