It’s no secret to anyone that the Raiders will be addressing their linebacker need once again this offseason, regardless of the status of Vontaze Burfict. With more teams deploying spread offenses, the Raiders have to get faster at the position.
One name that is going to be frequently linked to the Raiders in 2020 is Clemson’s linebacker, Isaiah Simmons. He is your prototypical passing-down linebacker as he is a former safety who has moved down to linebacker in the past season.
In a recent mock draft by Luke Easterling of the Draft Wire, Simmons was one of the Raider’s selections in the first round. Take a look at what Easterling thinks about the pick and why it’s a perfect fit:
This defense needs a difference-maker in the middle who can set the tone for the entire unit, and Simmons is the perfect fit. While some may view him as a ‘tweener, Simmons is an athletic playmaker who can transform an entire defense, no matter where you line him up.
Through 11 games in 2019, Simmons has already racked up 12.5 tackles for a loss to go along with six sacks and one interception. He’s an ascending player whose best football is still ahead of him. Considering Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden’s love for Clemson players, expect Simmons to be on the shortlist of names the team considers in the 2020 draft.