Redskins: Five 2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch in NCAA championship
By Ian Cummings
No. 2 – Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
The Redskins will have to trade back if they want to have a chance at picking Isaiah Simmons, as picking him at No. 2 would be a slight reach. But Simmons is a unicorn at linebacker, in a similar vein to a Tremaine Edmunds, and for a defensive mind like Ron Rivera, he’d represent endless possibilities.
Simmons has outstanding athleticism and length, standing at 6-foot-4, 230. As The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid noted in his recent 2020 NFL Draft big board, which listed Simmons as the draft’s No. 9 overall prospect, Simmons is “the ultimate defensive chess piece”, as he’s logged snaps at every defensive position besides interior lineman.
The Redskins don’t necessarily have a glaring need at linebacker; Cole Holcomb had a solid rookie year to build off of, Shaun Dion Hamilton is an exciting young piece with some potential, and Reuben Foster can be a dynamic starter if he comes back fully healthy. But Simmons could play in tangent with those players, and fill a number of holes without necessarily depleting opportunities in other areas. He’d be able to play all three 4-3 linebacker spots, as well as fill in as a pass rusher on some snaps. If Rivera could be creative with Simmons, his value would be through the roof.
Ultimately, Chase Young is arguably the best player in the NFL Draft, and his value trumps anything the Redskins might project from Simmons. But if the team was to trade back, Simmons would warrant serious consideration.