Few players impressed viewers at the NFL Scouting Combine better than Clemson prospect Isaiah Simmons, a versatile safety-linebacker hybrid who has been marketed as a more-athletic Tyrann Mathieu. Simmons blazed through the 40-yard dash in just 4.38 seconds, an astounding time at his official weight of 238 pounds (and a couple of hairs beneath 6-foot-4).
To illustrate just how absurd that performance is, the NFL Network crew broadcasting combine events put together simulcam footage of Simmons competing with stars from around the league including New Orleans Saints playmakers Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, which you can see below.
It shouldn’t be a real surprise that Kamara and Thomas were each outraced by Simmons; their own times in the 40-yard dash are easy to find in historical records, with Kamara timing the sprint in 4.56 seconds while Thomas finished slightly behind at 4.57. But seeing them all compete against one another in real time sure helps to drive the point home.
Will the Saints see Simmons during the 2020 season? It’s unclear where exactly he’ll land in the draft, but it’s a safe bet that any team would be happy to have him. Simmons is a near-lock to be picked in the first 10 selections, possibly joining the NFC South-rival Carolina Panthers at No. 7 (who have lost dynamic linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly in recent years). The Los Angeles Chargers (at No. 6) and Detroit Lions (at No. 3) also might make sense as landing spots for Simmons, and they’re both scheduled to play the Saints in 2020. So it might not be too long before Simmons is running against Kamara or Thomas for real. And that would make for must-see TV.
