The New York Giants need draft capital for their inevitable rebuild, and they could trade former top-10 pick Isaiah Simmons for whatever they can get. Selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 NFL Draft, Simmons was supposed to be an elite athlete with the coverage abilities of a safety and the hard-hitting, ferocious strength of a linebacker. That promise never quite materialized in the NFL, but he has carved out a role as a jack of all trades, master of none hybrid player.
The problem is that the Giants don’t have much use for a player like that at this stage in their rebuild. Daniel Jones is showing some life thanks to rookie first-round pick Malik Nabers, but this team is still 1-3 in arguably the most competitive division in football. With no real shot at the playoffs, the Giants could trade Isaiah Simmons to a team like the Los Angeles Chargers or Carolina Panthers that could use a boost in run defense. While they probably wouldn’t get anything more than a late-round pick, it’s better than nothing.
Giants Could Trade Isaiah Simmons To Chargers, Panthers
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh plays an old-school style of football, which means he should have plenty of interest in an Isaiah Simmons trade. In Harbaugh’s perfect world, the Chargers will win games with a strong rushing attack complemented by a ferocious defense that can quickly close rushing lanes near the line of scrimmage and deliver punishing hits to anyone who dares run routes over the middle of the field. While Harbaugh’s defense is dramatically better than former head coach Brandon Staley’s, he could still use a few more bodies to properly execute his vision.
The college version of Isaiah Simmons would be the missing piece to this defense, and that alone could justify a trade. At this point in his career, the Clemson product will most likely never justify his top-10 draft capital. Some players can succeed regardless of their environment, and Simmons is not one of them. However, great coaches know how to get the best out of their talent, and Harbaugh has demonstrated an ability to get the most out of his players for years. Even if it’s just a depth role, don’t be surprised if the Chargers find a way to make Isaiah Simmons into a reliable NFL player.
Fixing The Panthers Defense
The Carolina Panthers made the bold decision to bench Bryce Young for Andy Dalton, and that was the correct decision. The Panthers have a functioning offense, but Dalton and breakout first-round pick Xavier Legette aren’t enough to compensate for Carolina’s atrocious defense. Dave Canales and company spent the offseason adding talent to the offensive side of the ball and didn’t have the resources to replace guys like Frankie Luvu. Isaiah Simmons is not as good as Luvu, but he’s considerably cheaper and could help out this team as a midseason trade target.
The Panthers have some building blocks on offense, but they must build their defense from the ground up. Cornerback Jaycee Horn and defensive tackle Derrick Brown are the only true fixtures on this side of the ball, and Brown is out for the season. Perhaps the Panthers think an Isaiah Simmons trade could help them win a relatively weak NFC South, but even if they accept this is a rebuilding year, they could still be interested in the former top-10 pick. Simmons is just 26 years old, and perhaps the Panthers would like to get an early look at what the impending free agent can do in their defense.
Main Photo: Peter Casey – USA Today Sports
