The Baltimore Ravens haven't spent much money in free agency outside of the Justin Madubuike extension and Derrick Henry signing. When you have one of the deepest teams in the league, Eric DeCosta can feel good about building through the draft instead of splashing the cash.
However, Baltimore has historically been a team that is willing to wait until the waning moments of free agency to sign an impact veteran. Offensive guard Dalton Risner has been the hot name of late, but The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec has his eyes set on an even bigger stalwart.
Zrebiec penned an article in which he mentioned 10 veteran free agents the Ravens could chase, with Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons chief among them. While unlikely, the idea of gunning for a championship might appeal to a player who has almost all the individual accolades one could ask for.
"If the 30-year-old is looking for another nice payday and a guaranteed starting job, Baltimore probably isn’t the place for him," Zrebiec said. "However, if he’s trying to chase a ring and is intent on joining a top-flight defense, signing with the Ravens would make sense." Will Simmons put rings over money?
Late offseason and in-season signings were a big reason the Ravens went 13-4 last year.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 8, 2024
A year later, there are intriguing FA options still available, especially at safety. https://t.co/qoq5CVrBLt
The Athletic links star free agent Justin Simmons to Baltimore Ravens
Simmons, who has five career interceptions of Patrick Mahomes when no one else has more than two, has recorded four second-team All-Pro nods in the last five seasons. The Broncos' defense went from poor, yet respectable, to historically bad when Simmons was unable to suit up, showing his impact.
It remains unclear as to why Simmons remains unsigned. If he holding out to join a contender like the Ravens, or has no one met his asking price. One of the few teams in the league who might be willing to sate both of his desires is the Ravens, as their defense is built to accomodate him.
Under Mike Macdonald, the Ravens used three-safety lineups as often as any team in the league. If new defensive coordinator Zach Orr is going to run something similar, adding Simmons to a room that already has an All-Pro in Kyle Hamilton and a trusted veteran in Marcus Williams would give Baltimore an embarrassment of riches at the position.
Simmons coming to Baltimore is unlikely, as he will likely price himself out of a contract the Ravens would be willing to offer. If Eric DeCosta crosses his fingers and says a prayer, maybe Simmons could decide he'd value dominating with a loaded Ravens team more than a one-year payday.