Isaiah Simmons | LB/S | Clemson
The Lions have two young linebackers in Jarrad Davis and Jahlani Tavai whom they have selected with early picks in two of the last three drafts, but it would be tough to not at least consider drafting another linebacker in the dynamic and versatile Isaiah Simmons.
Simmons, who measures at an imposing 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, can play just about anywhere on defense and make an impact. His instincts, his insane athleticism in space and consistency as a tackler give him the ability to be the ultimate Swiss army knife for any team at the next level. He can accelerate extremely well and change direction on a dime, and his combination of fluidity and length makes him a valuable asset in coverage.
Clemson certainly took advantage of his rare skillset, giving him over 200 snaps as an off-ball linebacker and as a slot cornerback, as well as over 100 snaps as a deep safety and a defensive lineman. Arguably one of the more misinformed takes is that Simmons should not be a high draft pick because he doesn’t have a set position: he’ll primarily be an off-ball linebacker, but he can play literally anywhere on the field.
Simmons might not be the pick at No. 3 because the Lions have bigger needs than linebacker, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt them to add such a specimen to their defense.