The New York Giants agreed to undisclosed terms to re-sign safety/linebacker Isaiah Simmons on Friday, pending a physical. The Giants acquired Simmons via trade from the Arizona Cardinals before the start of the 2023 season. In all 17 games last year with the G-Men, he started four games and recorded 50 tackles, a sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown in Week 11. The former eighth overall pick by the Cardinals in 2020 out of Clemson has never missed a game in his NFL career to this point, appearing in 67 games in the regular season (41 starts). The 25-year-old isn't exactly an IDP fantasy asset, but he's extremely valuable to the Giants' defense because of his versatility and ability to move in and out as either a linebacker or safety.
The New York Giants acquired safety Isaiah Simmons from the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, according to a source. The Cardinals took Simmons eighth overall in the 2020 draft out of Clemson, and he recorded 258 tackles (181 solo), 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 11 QB hits, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 16 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his three years in the desert. The 25-year-old hybrid linebacker/safety was inconsistent against the run in his time with Arizona, and it remains to be seen how the Giants will use him on defense in 2023. There's no denying the athleticism, but Simmons will be off the fantasy radar for now in most IDP leagues.
After spending nearly half of his snaps last year as a defensive back, Arizona Cardinals safety Isaiah Simmons, the No. 8 overall pick in 2020, said that he'll be spending more time in 2023 in the secondary. Simmons played 48.6 percent of his snaps at cornerback and safety last year, but he also showed off his versatility by playing five different positions, including linebacker. His versatility is what made him attractive coming out of college, but Arizona's vision is to keep Simmons in one position this year. The 24-year-old's fifth-year option was declined and he's coming off a season in which he played 38.8% of his snaps as a slot corner. The expectation is that he'll spend a significant amount of time as the nickel corner in 2023 after starting six of the last eight games at defensive back last year. The trio of Simmons and safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson will give the Cardinals one of the most dynamic and deep secondaries in the NFL.
Cardinals Don't Pick Up Isaiah Simmons' Fifth-Year Option
The Arizona Cardinals opted not to pick up the fifth-year option for former No. 10 overall pick linebacker Isaiah Simmons by the deadline on Monday, according to sources. Simmons will now enter a contract year with a chance to make it count with a big season under new defensive-minded head coach Jonathan Gannon. Versatility is the 24-year-old's greatest asset, and he's expected to once again move around as a jack of all trades in Arizona's defense in 2023. The former eighth overall pick is coming off a 99-tackle (68 solo) season with a career-high four sacks, five tackles for loss, four QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 17 games (13 starts). Simmons could easily convince the Cards to keep him around beyond 2023 if he plays well in his fourth NFL campaign.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said it's fair to assume that linebackers Isaiah Simmons (last year's first-round pick) and Zaven Collins (this year's first-rounder) will line up together as starters this season. It means that Jordan Hicks is the odd-man out, and it was reported this week that the organization has given Hicks permission to seek a trade. It doesn't mean that a trade will happen, but Hicks' role would be significantly downgraded if he were to remain with the Cardinals. Collins was taken 16th overall by Arizona in this year's draft and will give the team plenty of versatility as another defensive chess piece.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons has been eased into his responsibilities after being taken with the eighth overall pick in the draft, but he's about to see a much bigger role, and it could happen on Thursday night against the Seahawks. "He's been patient enough to wait his turn, but it's time," defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. Linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (calf) will be a game-time decision this week, but Simmons figures to have a sizable role even if Campbell is active. If Campbell can't go, Simmons will have a full-time role for the first time in his career. The first-round rookie isn't relevant yet in IDP leagues, but he could get there before season's end if he ends up playing a full-time role. The Cardinals Defense isn't a safe play in a game that could easily wind up being a shootout again.
Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Isaiah Simmons played five positions at Clemson, but head coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to see how Simmons will do at just one position in the NFL. The Cardinals think "the sky is the limit" if the eighth overall pick in the draft can focus all of his efforts on learning just one position. The 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus Award winner played 303 snaps at cornerback, 218 at safety, 160 at outside linebacker and 121 at inside linebacker last year. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said that Simmons will primarily be a linebacker but will be used in various other roles, mainly to cover tight ends. General manager Steve Keim said Simmons has the ability to be a "Swiss Army knife" for this defense.
The Arizona Cardinals newest top draft pick, Isaiah Simmons, is expected to be a linebacker, according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. One of Simmons' main draws was his versatility, and his speed was regularly used at cornerback and safety at Clemson, but his presence in the middle of the field will be a huge upgrade for the Cardinals. Having to square off against a daunting NFC West lineup is never a good thing for a defensive unit, but Simmons has top-notch potential that could make him a game-changer against opposing tight ends.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday. Simmons is the ultimate chameleon on the defensive side of the ball, as he played linebacker, safety and cornerback in college. Most NFL teams have him pegged as a safety at the next level, but he'll certainly give the Cardinals Defense plenty of options on that side of the ball. Arizona could decide to use him in blitzes and he can also be used to help spy on the opponent's best offensive player. With Arizona, he should be lining up more as an outside or inside linebacker closer to the line of scrimmage. Simmons had a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, so he has the speed to cover all over the field and get into the backfield with ease.
One of the biggest puzzle pieces among draft prospects is where exactly Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons will fit at the next level. Some teams project him as an outside linebacker, some think he's an inside linebacker, most teams view him as a safety and one coach even thinks his talents fit best as an edge rusher. He won the 2019 Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker in college, and Simmons is obviously extremely versatile, even playing some cornerback. However, safeties and off-the-ball linebackers are rarely taken in the top 10 of drafts, so we could see Simmons fall into the middle of Round 1 on Thursday night.
