Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons among most likely 2nd-year players to break out in 2021
The Arizona Cardinals brought along their first-round draft pick, linebacker Isaiah Simmons, slowly in 2020. It appears that was the plan the whole time. He started the first four games but only had 44 total defensive snaps in those games.
He didn’t play more than 30 defensive snaps in any game until halfway through the season and then, from there, played more.
There were struggles but he also made plays and finished, considering the percentage of snaps played, with a fairly solid stat line of 54 tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hits, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Looking ahead to 2021, Pro Football Focus has him listed as one of the 2020 rookies most likely to break out in 2021.
Taking Week 1 out of the equation, Simmons produced the ninth-best coverage grade among off-ball linebackers this season. He allowed just four first downs and touchdowns combined while posting eight passing stops, an interception and a forced incompletion. It may have been on a part-time basis, but that is quite impressive considering he served in such a versatile role at Clemson and didn’t play much as a traditional linebacker.
We will see this offseason how much the Cardinals trust Simmons for next season, based on what they do at linebacker. De’Vondre Campbell, who plays the position Simmons would play, is scheduled to be a free agent. If he is allowed to move on and they do not replace him with a clear starter, then we can expect Simmons to be the starter in 2021, and if he is the starter, he will have much more production.
Of course, the Cardinals did use Simmons in a variety of roles late in the season, much like how he was used at Clemson. If he is going to continue to do that, the Cardinals will need to add a decent linebacker to play inside.
Simmons has a year under his belt and the Cardinals appear ready to give him a greater role.
It will actually be a problem for the team if he doesn’t break out in 2021.
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