Cardinals DB Isaiah Simmons Needs to Prove Himself

It's a big year for the Arizona Cardinals - one that will see plenty of players officially enter "put up or shut up" territory. 

Guys such as Marquise Brown are entering the final year of their contract and will look to prove themselves ahead of a potential payday.

However, you'll find little arguments when looking for a player who has more on their plate than Isaiah Simmons, who had his fifth-year option declined by the new regime in Arizona. 

He's set to become a free agent after this season after being moved to different positions in each year of his tenure in the desert. He was made a top-ten pick thanks to his ultra rare combo of size and speed, though his versatility hasn't exactly shined.

In their evaluation of players who have the most to prove from the 2020 NFL Draft, Simmons found himself on the list with the following explanation from Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski.

"Isaiah Simmons entered the NFL as a modern hybrid defender capable of excelling at multiple spots.

"In order for that approach to work, a coaching staff needed a plan to capitalize on Simmons' varied skill set. One never materialized in the desert after the Arizona Cardinals drafted the Clemson Tigers standout with the eighth overall draft pick.

"Through his first two years, the 6'4", 238-pound defender primarily played in the box. Last season, he found himself in the slot far more often. He never made a significant impact when pigeonholed into one primary spot.

"Under new leadership, Jonathan Gannon and his staff envision Simmons taking advantage of his size, speed and athleticism by placing him at safety. However, the most important thing to the young defender's potential success is Gannon realizing that Simmons can be deployed anywhere while varying up his alignments to improve his effectiveness."

From the outside, it appears the Cardinals do believe in Simmons. He's been operating as a single-high safety during most of training camp in a three-safety look that's featured Budda Baker in the box and Jalen Thompson in the slot. 

There's no denying the pressure that Simmons is operating under this season.