For the second year in a row, the Atlanta Falcons signed the best safety on the free-agent market. Last offseason, the team gave Jessie Bates III a four-year, $64 million contract and he went on to make the first Pro Bowl of his career in 2023.

On Thursday, the Falcons signed Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million deal, creating arguably the top safety duo in the league. Simmons also made the Pro Bowl in 2023 but was released by the Broncos for cap reasons.

The eight-year NFL veteran has recorded 30 interceptions, 443 solo tackles and 64 passes defended since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2016.

Falcons fans were already salivating over the team's new-look defense following Wednesday's trade for Pro Bowl outside linebacker Matthew Judon, and signing Simmons on Thursday was the icing on the cake.

Atlanta's new safety changed his Twitter profile to an image of himself wearing the team's red throwback helmets.

The Falcons return to the field on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Baltimore Ravens, but it's unlikely that the team will play Simmons or Judon. Still, both players strongly increase the team's chances of ending a six-year playoff drought.

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This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Justin Simmons shares new Falcons-themed profile picture