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Free agent signing reveals what made the Packers stand out, and it's the kind of answer that should excite fans for 2025

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Wendell Ferreira | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 9:37 AM ET

Once his contract with the New York Giants expired, Isaiah Simmons started to consider his options. Since he wouldn't be able to sign a big contract anyway, fit was the main priority. The projection of playing at a high level on a short-term deal and returning to free agency under better circumstances is his plan, and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is the tool to achieve that. Ultimately, the coach is why he chose the Green Bay Packers.

"I feel like Haf's defense fits me better," Simmons said after mandatory minicamp last week. "With how my skill type was, how it came more so like how I played in college. I know he was in college recently, so that could be a part of it. But I just like his vision and creativity. I feel like I need to be with a guy who's creative, so kudos to him for that."

Coming out of Clemson, Isaiah Simmons was a highly-touted prospect. He was the eighth overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals back in 2020, but the inability to find a home position-wise is probably the biggest reason why he's not reached his projected ceiling.

He played three years with the Arizona Cardinals and the last two for the Giants. So far, he's had 1,316 snaps in the box (as an off-ball linebacker and strong safety), 792 in the slot, 579 in the defensive line (usually as a blitzer on the edge), 80 as a boundary corner, and 70 as a deep safety.

With the Packers, Simmons will have a clear defensive focus: he will be an off-ball linebacker, playing on the strong or weak side of the formation. That means he won't need to master the middle LB position to call plays, nor play as a safety.

"The NFL, a big part of it is about what situation you're in and where you're at," Simmons added. "Placement matters, and every system doesn't fit everybody. I feel like this is the most comfortable in a system I've been since I've been in the league. Of course you want to be somewhere through your whole career, but I would rather be in a better system than be in one team the whole time."

Throughout the offseason program, Simmons was mainly a backup and competed with second-year player Ty'Ron Hopper behind Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie — Quay Walker missed most of the team activities due to an undisclosed injury.

"He's extremely athletic, we kinda knew that coming in, bringing him in here," head coach Matt LaFleur said. "He's doing a better job of learning our scheme, showing improvement."

The Packers signed Isaiah Simmons right after the draft. He got a one-year, $1.337 million deal that included only $167,500 in guarantees. First, he has to make the 53-man roster. But based on his athletic ability and special teams track record, there's a clear path to execute his big-picture plan.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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