The Patriots' roster underwent a massive overhaul this offseason, as expected, with the entire team being put under the microscope of a new regime. That led Mike Vrabel to move on from every remaining player from the dynasty team to clear the way for what he hopes to build in New England moving forward, which includes an aggressive and dominant defense.
That was the priority as soon as free agency began, as defensive star after defensive star was signed to a new contract in New England. It proved that Vrabel and Co. wanted to revive the age-old defense of the Patriots' past, which also put them on the shortlist to sign several of the remaining top free agents, one of whom is safety Justin Simmons.
Although the secondary was addressed earlier this offseason, not many moves were made in the safety room. A big reason for that is the presence of Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, yet there might still be room for a player of Simmons' caliber.
The problem is that the Patriots are not listed as a viable landing spot for the four-time Pro Bowler as he heads into the summer still looking for a team to sign with.
The Patriots might have to look elsewhere if they want to sign another star safety
According to CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin, there are plenty of teams that should be in line to sign Simmons before the 2025 season. He lists the Commanders, Eagles, Panthers, Raiders and 49ers as the most likely next stop, noticeably leaving the Patriots off the list.
While it's not outlandish to believe the Patriots might not be in line to sign a starter like Simmons, given who they have on their roster, they shouldn't be completely ruled out either, especially since there will inevitably be a lot of pressure on a player like Dugger to have a comeback season.
Because he underperformed throughout last season, which appears to be easily attributed to a misdiagnosed injury, there are many questions regarding his comeback in 2025. With a new coaching staff on the sideline, Dugger will have to prove that last year's performance was a fluke and not a result of a nagging ankle injury that was surgically repaired earlier this year.
That will need to be seen when the team is back for training camp, so they won't be looking for a starter-quality player like Simmons to replace him.
It will be interesting to see if Dugger can accomplish that, especially since he had an impressive year in 2023 that earned him a new contract. Vrabel has already shown that he has no qualms about releasing longtime starters or even previous captains, so the safety is far from safe going into training camp. That makes Simmons' availability an even bigger story in Foxboro, even if some believe he would be better suited elsewhere.