Retrospective scouting report · Class of 2020Consensus #008
LB· Round 1
Isaiah
Simmons.
Sickos Grade
88.2/100
Pre-draft #8
LB· Round 1· Versatile defensive chess piece with elite athleticism and coverage range
Isaiah
Simmons.
Clemson· 6'4"· 238 lb· 4.39s 40
/ Recruiting profile
★★★☆☆stars.8778
National · #444HS class · 2016Olathe North, KS
247Sports composite via CFBD
R1 · #8 · Arizona Cardinals
02Scheme fit
Ideal system
Simmons is an ideal fit for a modern NFL defense that values versatility and athletic playmaking from its second-level defenders.
Nickel/Dime LBEdge RusherBox SafetySlot DefenderBlitzer
Best role
Year 1 impact as a versatile chess piece, disrupting offenses from multiple alignments with the ceiling to be a perennial Pro Bowl defender.
Wrong fit
A traditional 3-4 two-gap scheme that demands a fixed, run-stuffing inside linebacker role.
His unique blend of size, speed, and coverage ability allows defenses to create mismatches and exotic blitz packages.
04The evaluation
Selected #8 overall in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft by Arizona Cardinals out of Clemson.
07Athletic testing
Height
6'4"
Weight
238 lb
40 yd
4.39s
Vertical
39"
Broad
11'0"
06Athletic profilevs. LB on Big Board
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.39sp50
- Vertical
- 39inp50
- Broad jump
- 132inp50
- Three-cone
- —s
- Shuttle
- —s
- Bench
- —rep
08College production
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Clemson | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | Clemson | 14 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | Clemson | 15 | 79 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | Clemson | 15 | 104 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Career | — | 44 | 229 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
/ Efficiency, 2026
below averagePredicted Points Added / play
-0.415
percentile at position
13%
PPA · rush
-0.415
CFBD PPA — 0 = league-average play
/ Usage share, 2026
6.4%of team plays
33 percentile at positionMaristPass plays · 0.0%Run plays · 12.0%Third down · 0.0%Passing downs · 5.6%
CFBD usage — share of the offense's plays involving the player
Draft Sickos · retrospective scouting profile