Former Cardinals’ top-10 pick confirms position switch
When the Arizona Cardinals drafted Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons with the No. 8 pick in the 2020 draft, the consensus was the team could exploit his versatile skillset.
And to a degree, the Cardinals were right. However, it may not be exactly the way the team envisioned after Simmons confirmed he was moving from linebacker to defensive back on Tuesday.
"This is a new defense,” Simmons said, via the team’s official website. “Personally, I'd like to master defensive back first before I dive into playing with outside linebackers or whatever else that might come about."
Added head coach Jonathan Gannon: "We had, at the time, a vision with how we were going to use him, but everybody has a little different vision for everyone.”
When Gannon hired Nick Rallis to be Arizona’s new defensive coordinator, figuring out what to do with Simmons was at the top of their to-do list.
After spending his first two years at linebacker, in which he totaled 159 tackles, eight tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, six forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions, the Cardinals used Simmons as a cornerback in nickel packages last season.
Simmons played 532 coverage snaps, and although he allowed a higher completion percentage than he would have liked (82.3), he did show flashes of being a solid CB. His 8.5 yards per reception allowed was lowest among Cardinals defensive backs with 100 or more coverage snaps, his two interceptions were second-most on the team and only one cornerback had a lower passer rating against in coverage than Simmons, per Pro Football Focus.
Simmons has a lot riding on the 2023 season. Arizona declined to pick up his fifth-year option, and with free agency just a year away, Simmons will be of most value to a team if he is settled into one position and not trying to conquer several.
"I'd like to be a master of at least everything in the secondary before I go on to other places,” he said.
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