Isaiah Simmons was already ahead of the rest of the linebacker class before last week’s NFL. But after you set up impressive figures during his measurements and fieldwork (which included his astounding 4.39 time on the 40-yard dash) in the combine, the former Clemson Tiger could end up in the top five of the draft of the NFL 2020.
Simmons’ combine performance was so good that CBS Sports draft analyst Ryan Wilson Ryan Wilson took the third overall pick in his last draft. And while Simmons could very well end up in Detroit, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY thinks it would be very difficult for the Giants, who write just behind the Lions with the fourth choice overall, to leave Simmons if he is still there for the taken.
Vacchiano added that an AFC scout said Simmons would be a “perfect” fit for the new defensive scheme that the Giants are looking to deploy under first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He added that Giants general manager Dave Gettelman, who has made it clear that acquiring a linebacker is one of the team’s top offseason priorities, is not top of linebackers which will soon be available on the open market.
Graham’s defensive pattern was born out of versatility, as the Dolphins, the team he was with during the 2019 season, played on several fronts throughout the season. While they were primarily a 3-4 defense, the Dolphins would also line up in a 4-3 or even a 6-2.
“It was a 3-4,” Giants and Dolphins linebacker Calvin Munson told The Athletic recently, “with a few moving parts.”
Graham’s defense requires a versatile linebacker, who can fulfill several roles when called upon to do so. That shouldn’t be a big deal for Simmons, who lined up in all positions except defensive tackles during his time at Clemson. Once, Simmons saw time at five different positions during a game.
“I think it’s really beneficial to me,” said Simmons from the combine. “I know it was not good years ago to be a unemployed guy. But now it has become an advantage for me simply because of all the versatility that I can do – play the linebacker, play it safe, anything. Mentally, I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do. “
Although it seems that Simmons would be a good candidate in New York, the question is whether the Giants are seriously interested in using their first choice over the talented linebacker. Late last month, Gettleman said the Giants were “open for business,” meaning they were ready to trade off the fourth overall pick. But that was before the Simmons monster was combined, which could cause Gettleman to reconsider how he uses his first-round pick.
Lions may be the only real roadblock preventing the Giants from getting Simmons. While the Bengals seemed ready to take Joe Burrow, the Redskins should overtake Chase Young with the second choice in total. And although they are supposed to go on defense with overall choice # 3, Lions are – at least not publicly – married to any particular player. Wilson asks Lions to take Simmons in his latest simulation, while fellow CBS Sports analyst Chris Trapasso of Detroit takes Ohio cornerback Jeff Okudah.
With the fourth choice, Trapasso has the Giants taking Simmons, and we could see that the pairing continues to develop over the next two months.