CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
ISAIAH SIMMONS
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-4
230 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
After spending his early years in Omaha and playing high school ball in Kansas, Simmons left the Midwest and went to Clemson as a three-star recruit. After redshirting his freshman year, Simmons became one of the most unique defensive players in college football. With a linebacker’s build and the speed of a defensive back, Simmons played at all three levels of the Tigers defense and helped them win a championship in 2018-19. Recorded over 100 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in his final Clemson season, which earned him the Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker) and solidified him as a first-round talent.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.39 40-yard dash (1st)
39-inch vertical (T-3rd)
132-inch broad jump (2nd)
VIKINGS’ COMPATIBILITY RANKING
1 out of 5. Great, great player, probably not needed by the Purple. We pegged linebacker as the Vikings’ ninth-biggest need considering their top four backers are returning in 2020, so using a first-round pick on Simmons — even though he may have the skills to play all over the field — would be negligent of other organizational holes.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Ascending hybrid talent with rare length, speed and versatility to create mismatches for the offense, depending upon alignment. He has a bachelor’s at three positions (slot corner, safety, linebacker) but could earn a master’s degree in complex workload with a more focused and defined job description than “jack-of-all-trades.” He can handle zone or man coverage from a variety of spots on the field, which gives defensive coordinators a chance to disguise blitz packages and exotic post-snap looks. He’ll miss run fits and can be misdirected due to a lack of instincts near the line, but his playmaking range outweighs those concerns for now. His unique potential to spy and shrink the field against dual-threat quarterbacks could push him way up the draft board.”
Joe Marino, Draft Network: “You won’t find a more versatile defensive prospect than Isaiah Simmons. And it’s not just that he is capable of playing multiple positions and filling numerous roles, he functions in them all at a high level. Simply put, Simmons is a rare dude. From his size to his athleticism and how he applies it on the field to make dynamic defensive plays, there just aren’t other players like him. Given today’s NFL offenses’ propensity to attack with pace and space while working to create mismatches, Simmons is that neutralizer. Simmons has the ability to become one of the most unique defensive playmakers in the league and his lack of limitations suggest he can start doing that early in his NFL career. Simmons is a defensive coordinator’s dream.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
100+ snaps in 2019 as edge, safety, linebacker and slot corner
8 forced incompletions (T-1st)
56.5 passer rating allowed in coverage
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
