Good luck finding anyone more versatile than Isaiah Simmons in the 2020 NFL draft.
The Clemson product lined up all over the field for the Tigers during his college career and was productive at every spot.
Linebacker or safety, rushing the passer or covering receivers, Simmons did it all. And he led Clemson in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks as a redshirt junior in 2019 before leaving for the NFL.
So where does Simmons feel like the best spot for him is at the next level? Simmons appeared on the Doug Gottlieb Show this week and provided that answer.
"I would honestly say the best me is how I was used at Clemson to where it's not really like a set position what I do. It's more of responsibilities," Simmons said. "So just giving me kind of the freedom to bounce around from position to position and just let myself go is honestly what I feel is best. But I also feel like I can lock in at one position and dominate that position as well."
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney got an up-close look at Simmons' versatility throughout Simmons' college career and believes that whichever team drafts Simmons will have an advantage.
Drafting Simmons is like having three first-round picks, according to Swinney, because the 6-foot-4, 238-pounder can do so many different things.
"Just decide where you want to put him and he'll be great at that," Swinney said. "He dispels the myth that there's not a unicorn. He is one. Have not had a guy like him. Had some guys that could do aspects of his game but not all of that with the size and the speed that he has."
But while most, including Swinney, view Simmons' versatility as a positive, some say it is a negative and wonder if he can be great at any one thing in the NFL.
"I understand he sort of fits a lot of places, but where does he truly make an impact?" Cubelic said. "And if you're taking a guy in the top 5, in the top 10, he damn well better impact your team somewhere in a serious way, and I have some questions that Isaiah Simmons might not be that guy. I think he's the most dangerous pick in the first round. ... I think he's a very dangerous pick."
Still, other analysts expect Simmons to have no problem making an impact at the next level.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah is a former scout for the Ravens, Browns and Eagles and believes Simmons has a bright future in the NFL. The question is _ how will the team that drafts Simmons use him?
"I do know there's talk around the league of, 'Man, we don't want to ask this kid to do too much. We want to let him focus in one area,'" Jeremiah said. "But I think with what he did at Clemson, doing all of those different things, that's where the value comes from is his ability to move all over the field and play different roles."
Jeremiah prefers to see Simmons in more of a blitzing role than that of a traditional pass rushing defensive end. The Kansas native, who turned heads with a 4.39-seconds 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, is expected to go somewhere in the top 10 on Thursday with the New York Giants at No. 4 and Carolina Panthers at No. 7 being popular landing spots in mock drafts.
"I think he'd have to get a little bit stronger to hold up on a down in, down out basis on the edge. He's 238 pounds, which is unbelievable size for a safety. It's about average size for a linebacker. So to hold up as an edge player down in, down out, I think that would be a little bit difficult," Jeremiah said.
"He's somebody that when you give him a runway he's going to be hell on wheels for tight ends and backs to deal with and stop. He's going to beat a tackle with his speed and quickness there as well. But I don't think I'm going to line him up on the edge of the tackle and ask him to go get me 10 sacks. I don't think that's who he is as a player."
