With drastic changes throughout the Carolina Panthers’ organization, nobody truly knows what direction they will go with their first-round draft pick. However, there are obvious needs that must be addressed, especially after the retirement of Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen’s exit left huge holes at their respective positions.

Fortunately for the Panthers, there is a special playmaker who might be available at No. 7 who can eliminate multiple concerns. Let’s take a closer look at the most versatile player in the 2020 NFL draft, Isaiah Simmons.

Scouting Report:
Simmons is a redshirt junior from Clemson who comes in at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. Although he is listed as a linebacker, Simmons has played almost every defensive position during his time in college. He has lined up at linebacker, single high safety, strong safety, defensive end, nickel corner and has even taken a few snaps at outside corner.

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables called on Simmons in a variety of situations and was able to keep opponents off balance by putting him all over the field. He can drop back and cover anyone man-to-man, no matter their speed, height, size, or talent. According to Pro Football Focus, he achieved an elite coverage grade of 92.5 over the course of his college career.Simmons is also able to consistently stop the run when he lines up in the box.

Not only is he one of the most athletically gifted prospects we have ever seen, he’s an immediate plug and play starter for any team. Like all prospects he has some weaknesses, but over time it’s getting harder to pick them out. Clemson effectively used Simmons as a mismatch eliminator and that is exactly what his role will be in the NFL.

Highlights:

Simmons vs. Ohio State

Simmons vs. Georgia Tech

Simmons vs. South Carolina

Simmons vs. Notre Dame

College numbers:

44 games, 148 solo tackles, 11 sacks, 28.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions, 20 pass breakups, six forced fumbles.

Fit with the Panthers:
With so many question marks on the Panthers’ defense, Simmons could answer several and fill a few positions at a high level. He could play Mike linebacker in some packages as a replacement for Luke Kuechly, play single high or box safety in place of either Tre Boston or Eric Reid, or he could be a shutdown matchup “corner” against quality receivers around the NFC South like Chris Godwin, Calvin Ridley and Michael Thomas.

The more players they can find like him who are capable of filling multiple roles, the more likely the Panthers will be competitive in 2020. Simmons would be an immediate star in Carolina.

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