Winner – Isaiah Simmons
Do not overthink this.
I repeat: Do. Not. Overthink. This.
Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons turned in one of the best combine performances among offball linebackers in NFL history. He demonstrated speed, with a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash. He displayed explosiveness, with a 39” vertical jump and an 11’0” broad jump. He displayed size and length, measuring in at 6’3 and ⅝” with a 76” wingspan. Simply put, Simmons brought the goods on Saturday night.
But do not consider him simply a workout warrior. Those who studied Simmons on tape were not surprised by what he posted during the Combine. In today’s NFL, with the trend towards positionless football, Simmons can be the piece for any team needing defensive help. As noted by Doug Farrar in this great piece, Simmons notched more than 100 snaps at four different positions last year for the Tigers. Simmons played 299 snaps in the box, 262 snaps at slot cornerback, 132 snaps at free safety, and 116 snaps at defensive line. In addition, he played 13 snaps at BOUNDARY CORNERBACK.
If you are a team needing help on defense – regardless of position – Simmons should be on your board. Need someone who can handle tight ends? Simmons can do that with his length and size. Need someone who can handle life in the slot or as an overhang defender? Simmons can do that. Need someone who can spy a quarterback on third down? Simmons can do that. Need someone with the size and speed to survive on the boundary? Simmons can do that.
His night was perhaps summed up best by Trevor Sikkema from The Draft Network:
Isaiah Simmons should’ve just kept running all the way out the building, into the limo, to the airport, on the plane home, cleats still on
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 1, 2020
That’s exactly right. So too will be the team that does not overthink Simmons.
Loser – Derrick Brown
You can see it happening.
Teams overthinking what Brown did on Saturday night, and passing on him in the draft.
Let us get the bad news out of the way. Brown did not test well at the Combine. His 40-yard dash of 5.16 seconds was the fourth-slowest among defensive linemen. His 20-yard shuttle of 4.79 seconds was the seventh-slowest. His vertical leap of 27” was the fourth-lowest. Then there is his three-cone time: 8.22 seconds. According to Pro Football Reference that number would be the tenth slowest among defensive linemen dating back to 2000.
Teams, however, should not overthink this.
On film Brown is a dominant force up front. He has great size and power at the point of attack, and can play almost anywhere up front. He commands double-teams, enabling him to create opportunities for those around him. In a league that still has those who value run defense, Brown can be a run-stopper up front.
To any scouts or decision-makers reading this: Trust your eyes, trust your tape grades, and do not shy away from drafting him. If you do, you’ll be sorry when he’s a force against your offense for years to come.