The Giants desperately need playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. There might not be a better playmaker than Clemson's Isaiah Simmons. Simmons played everywhere for Clemson's defense, getting snaps at inside linebacker, cornerback, free safety, and defensive end.
Simmons is more than just a jack of all trades type of player, he was legitimately a force everywhere Clemson defensive coordinator Brett Venables stuck him on the field. The way Venables used him gave NFL teams a blueprint for his professional transition, but not every team is suited to take on a player as unique as he is.
Simmons is a force of nature on the field. Clemson had him listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, but he has the athleticism of someone much smaller than his listed measurables. He can legitimately run like a defensive back while having the size of a prototypical linebacker, which makes him an absolute menace as a blitzer in an aggressive scheme like Clemson's.
Simmons racked up eight sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season. He's one of the better blitzing defenders to come out in the past few years, having the strength to get through smaller blockers and the agility to maneuver around mammoth offensive linemen.
Simmons isn't necessarily a hammer against inside runs as a middle linebacker, but his athleticism allows him to cut down runners on outside runs and option plays. That skill would be invaluable in a division that has Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz, two of the more mobile quarterbacks in the league.
One area of Simmons' game that's so uncommon is his ability to play over the top as a free safety. He's not a world-beater here, but he's not a liability either, which is wild for a player of his size. Perhaps the most notable highlight of Simmons' entire career was him playing free safety against Ohio State in the college football playoff and forcing an interception where he sprinted from the middle of the field to the sideline.
Really the only notable hole in Simmons' game is his ability to plug holes in the middle of the line of scrimmage as a run stuffer, but he can do so much more on the field that it's not a real hindrance. Simmons is at his best as a strong safety or an overhang-type player where he can fill the alley and use his speed and hitting power to make plays in space.
That's where his fit with the Giants gets tricky. The Giants already invested in a hybrid defensive back when they traded for Jabrill Peppers last season. Peppers was a positive contributor for the Giants' defense, but his presence shouldn't stop the team from drafting Simmons based on pure level of talent. At the same time, Peppers is a starting quality safety _ this isn't actually a huge need for the Giants. Drafting Simmons could end up forcing Peppers into a linebacker role that doesn't quite suit his skillset. Simmons is undoubtedly an elite prospect, but the Giants have more pressing needs that would make Simmons somewhat of a luxury pick. Offensive tackle is a bigger issue for the Giants right now.
However, Simmons is absolutely good enough to justify using the fourth overall pick on him. He's the perfect second-level weapon to eviscerate outside runs and screens while playing sound coverage on tight ends and slot receivers. The Giants ranked 31st in pass defense according to Football Outsiders' DVOA metric _ improving their pass defense is a must for them this offseason, even if their general manager thinks running the ball is more important.
Don't worry about the schematic fit in the defense that Patrick Graham is bringing over to the Giants. Simmons can slide right in as a force at strong safety that can play linebacker in dime sets and even rush the passer when needed.
Two things can be true: Simmons is an elite draft prospect that makes the Giants' defense better and he might not be the best use of the fourth pick for the current construction of the Giants' roster. Still, it would be hard to criticize Simmons being the pick.
He's that good.
