Packers Linebacker Named Former Team’s Worst Draft Pick

The Green Bay Packers‘ linebacking corps has certainly improved from days nearly half a decade ago when the team would regularly field De’Vondre Campbell as the lone off-the-ball linebacker in their 5-1 nickel formation, much of which was due to the team’s lack of prowess at the position beyond Campbell.

Now that the Packers have invested more at the position, adding Quay Walker in the first round of the 2022 draft, and Edgerrin Cooper in the second round of the 2024 draft, there is much more security and optimism about the unit heading into 2025.

Another addition that fans have been sneakily excited about is that of Isaiah Simmons, the former Arizona Cardinals linebacker who was once selected with the 8th overall pick back in 2020.

Yet, Simmons did not have a strong spell in Arizona. A spell that was so disappointing, unfortunately, that Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder named him the team’s worst draft pick over the past half-decade.

“It’s understandable what the Cardinals were thinking when they took Simmons with a top-10 draft pick.” Holder wrote on Thursday, “The NFL had become a passing league in which big college safeties were routinely converted into linebackers.

However, the Clemson product ended up not having a natural position in the league and was eventually traded for a seventh-round pick. Simmons is currently on the Green Bay Packers, where he’ll be fighting for a roster spot during training camp.”

Can Isaiah Simmons Kick-Start His Career In Green Bay?

Isaiah Simmons was one of the top prospects coming out of college in 2020. But his status as a tweener meant that he never managed to master either the linebacker, safety or nickel corner role, leading to what has been some less-than-desirable play over the past few years.

At minicamp, the Packers website outlined the role they have for him moving forward.

“For years, Simmons has been deployed in a series of hybrid defensive roles.” Wes Hodkiewicz wrote in mid-June, “It’s the blessing and curse that comes with being one of the few 6-foot-4, 238-pound humans who also can run a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash.

From the start, the Packers made it clear they weren’t interested in spreading Simmons out like that. They have defensive ends to rush the passer and defensive backs to cover receivers.

Green Bay’s plan was to get Simmons back to his roots, more specifically the “Sam” and “Will” linebacker positions.

Could Simmons Start For The Packers?

Initially, the former Cardinal will start behind the likes of Cooper and Walker, but he will certainly have opportunities here and there to move into the starting role.

The Packers declined Walker’s fifth year option, and whilst that was almost all due to how expensive it was, relative to other players at the position, it still leave them with flexibility at the position moving forward.

It would be difficult to say that Simmons has even a strong chance of being a key contributor this season, but if he starts to play up to his enormous potential, nothing is off the table.