Carolina Panthers Draft: Isaiah Simmons is the best fit

The Carolina Panthers will have a difficult time selecting between the available talented prospects at No. 7 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Clemson Linebacker Isaiah Simmons should be at the top of the list.

Owning a top ten draft pick can be a stressful place for an NFL general manager. There is a multitude of insanely talented prospects to choose from, each could help out a team tremendously. The Carolina Panthers‘ biggest needs are currently on the defensive side of the ball and boy do they have a lot of them.

The Panthers lost a ton of starting defensive players in free agency with standouts such as cornerback James Bradberry, outside linebacker Mario Addison and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy all joining new teams. Not to mention arguably the team’s best defensive player of all time, Luke Kuechly, retired.

That leaves plenty of defensive positions that Carolina needs to address in the upcoming draft. What better player to consider than a guy who can play multiple vital positions? Isaiah Simmons mostly lined up in the box at linebacker but he also played cornerback, free safety, and defensive line for the Tigers. If that’s not versatile enough for you he was also a wide receiver in high school.

Simmons isn’t just versatile though. He dominated at whatever position Clemson needed him to fill whenever they needed him to fill it. He is extremely intelligent and seems to always know what the opposing offense is going to do before they do it. A trait that Kuechly was so famous for and one that the Panthers will surely miss.

The NFL Combine numbers for Simmons are simply off the charts which is a testament to just how special an athlete he is. He graded in the 99th percentile in the 40-yard dash, the 10-yard split, and the broad jump. His 40 time was faster than both Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley and All-Pro Panthers’ stud Christian McCaffrey.

While his combine was extremely impressive he shines even brighter on tape. He is always around the football and quick to the point of attack. He can get after the passer as well as sit back and anticipate the run game. He also can take away tight ends and slot receivers on short to intermediate routes.

Simmons is an incredible talent that could help out the Panthers and probably be the best player on the field day one. So why would such a game-changing player fall to Carolina at No. 7?

Well, three of the six teams drafting in front of the panthers are in need of a quarterback. The Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Chargers will likely be looking to address the most important position with their first-round picks.

That leaves the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and New York Giants. Almost every mock draft has the Redskins taking Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young at No. 2 and for good reason as he is probably the best overall player in this year’s draft.

The Lions are expected to take Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State because they are in need of a cornerback. The Giants are more than likely going to address the offensive line.

The 2020 NFL Draft has a ton of talented prospects that the Panthers should consider. Isaiah Simmons looks like he would be the best fit and able to make the most impact for Carolina.