Green Bay Packers Reach Verbal Agreement to Sign Former Four-Time All-Pro Before Final Preseason Game, per Source

The Green Bay Packers, dealing with defensive depth issues exposed throughout preseason, have moved quickly to reinforce their secondary. After two uneven showings, the front office is making a late push before final roster decisions.

Defensive breakdowns were particularly visible in the opener against the Jets, when missed tackles piled up and the safety group looked overwhelmed. Coaches admitted afterward that the defense lacked stability without key veterans available.

The depth chart has thinned dramatically. Zayne Anderson suffered a season-ending knee injury, while Omar Brown remains sidelined with a chest injury requiring medical monitoring. Those absences have left serious questions at the back end.

Xavier McKinney is locked in as a starter, but Green Bay’s supporting cast is unproven. Evan Williams and Javon Bullard remain second-year players, while undrafted rookies Kahzir Brown and Johnathan Baldwin have struggled to find consistency.

To address the concern, the Packers have reached a verbal agreement with Justin Simmons, according to sources. The proposed deal is for one year, valued at $4 million, with a $1 million signing bonus included.

“He’s a ball-hawk with leadership skills this group badly needs,” one NFC personnel executive said. “Simmons has proven he can take away passing lanes, steady a secondary, and elevate younger teammates in difficult situations.”

Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler and four-time Second-Team All-Pro, with 30 career interceptions and over 580 tackles. He led the NFL with six interceptions in 2022 and continues to grade among the league’s top safeties.

For Green Bay, the addition represents urgency and ambition. With preseason exposing clear weaknesses, Simmons provides experience and stability, giving the Packers a trusted veteran presence as they finalize the 53-man roster for 2025.