Former Falcons $8 million veteran, 2-time Pro Bowl safety linked to longtime NFC South rival

The excitement surrounding the Atlanta Falcons this season is unlike anything in recent memory. The franchise has struggled to put together consistent winning seasons, but they nearly broke through last year. This upcoming season, the Falcons aren’t just aiming for a winning record — they’re looking to win the NFC South and secure a playoff spot.

It all starts with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The second-year signal-caller is ready to lead the Falcons for the full season after taking over late last year. Once he was given the starting job, he gave the team a chance to win every weekend. If he keeps up that level of play, he could eventually earn a contract similar to what Brock Purdy just got.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons need a major step forward — especially from the defensive line, which had a relatively unproductive season last year. Fortunately, one veteran continues to be a cornerstone of the unit.

“At 32 years old, Onyemata is coming off his seventh season of logging more than 500 defensive snaps, proving to be one of the more reliable players at his position in recent years,” wrote Jonathon Macri.

Last season, the Falcons had two veteran safeties in Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons. The pairing worked well, but it appears Simmons may be heading to a division rival. According to ESPN, the best potential fit for Simmons is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Cincinnati and Carolina would also work here, but Simmons fits really well as an interchangeable safety opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. in Todd Bowles' defense. The Bucs played the most zone coverage in the league last season (71.7% of the time), and Simmons can spin to the post or walk down in Cover 3. He's an excellent communicator with field awareness,” Matt Bowen wrote.

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If Simmons joins the Bucs, it would feel like a major betrayal to Falcons fans — but at the end of the day, it’s a business. For Tampa Bay, adding Simmons would create one of the league’s more formidable safety duos.