When Isaiah Simmons returned to the New York Giants for the 2024 season there was a belief that the uber-athletic veteran linebacker might be in line for a big role with the team’s defense.
That never materialized, and Simmons is headed back to free agency. Should the Giants bring Simmons, who will be 27 next season, back for a third season with the team?
Reasons to keep Simmons
There are few 6-foot-4, 238-pound human beings who are as athletic as Simmons. He can be utilized in a variety of ways on defense, and we saw during the 2024 season how that athletic ability can be used on special teams.
He can wear a lot of hats for a defense, and his athleticism does allow him to run into big plays on occasion.
Reasons to let him go
Simmons is a tease. He has been in the NFL for five years after being drafted No. 8 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. Coach after coach has looked at Simmons’ athleticism, and tried to figure out ways to use it.
He has played inside linebacker, edge, nickel and wide cornerback, and free safety.
The problem is, he has not done any of those things all that well. Coaches keep moving him around and trying things because it is so hard to walk away from that athleticism.
At some point, though, athleticism isn’t enough. There has to be production, and for Simmons there just hasn’t been enough of that.
The verdict
For me, Simmons is a pass. Why keep beating your head against the wall trying to find something that, after five years in multiple defensive schemes playing a variety of positions, doesn’t appear to be there?
