Perhaps no one on the Arizona Cardinals improved quite like Isaiah Simmons last season. But he still remains a player without a defined role.
While the 2023 NFL Season is still months away, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and his young band of coaches on the defensive side of the ball need to formulate a plan of how they are going to use Isaiah Simmons sooner than later. Simmons, who can play either linebacker or in the secondary, is one of the most versatile players in the NFL. But the faster Gannon and his staff find a role for Simmons, the more clear-cut things will be regarding team needs.
Simmons, listed as a linebacker per Pro-Football-Reference, has seen extensive time at corner and safety. So will he remain a fixture in the secondary, or will the new staff look to play him more at his listed position?
As it stands, the Cardinals could need another corner either in free agency or early in the draft. But if they decide to play Simmons more at the position, say, nickelback, and re-sign Byron Murphy, corner becomes less of a need, and they would instead look to fill a spot at linebacker.
Arizona Cardinals need to decide what to do with Isaiah Simmons
Ideally, Gannon, Rallis, and Company will have Simmons' role for 2023 planned out in March as opposed to April, which would give general manager Monti Ossenfort and assistant David Sears a better chance to target free agents and draft prospects who would play a role that Simmons won't see too much of in 2023. The sooner the Cards figure this out, the better off they will be, and the higher the odds they will sign and draft early for need.
Hopefully, we will have more information on how Simmons' role will play out as we near free agency and ultimately, the NFL Draft. Regardless of where he plays, Simmons will continue to improve as he comes off his most productive season to date, with 99 total tackles, 2 interceptions, a pick six, 2 forced fumbles, and 4.0 sacks.
Source: Gannon: Cardinals determined to find role Isaiah Simmons can ‘really thrive in’ by Tyler Drake, ArizonaSports.com
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)