Isaiah Simmons Rumors: LB Could Drop in 2020 NFL Draft; Teams See Him as Safety

While few question Isaiah Simmons' talent, nearly everyone questions what position he'll play at the next level.

Is he a safety? A linebacker? Something in between? The uncertainty regarding his position has led to some speculation he'll fall down draft boards Thursday night, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:

Simmons has publicly tried to spin the narrative in his favor, saying he's embraced the "unicorn" moniker as the draft approaches.

"I get a lot of different names," Simmons said. "I've heard 'alien,' I think the one I hear the most is 'unicorn.' I kind of like it. The best way I could put it is—so you only get 53 on a roster and I feel like if you draft me you've got 56." 

Simmons primarily played defensive back for his first two years at Clemson before transitioning to linebacker in 2019, emerging as one of the most dominant forces in the country. He picked up 104 tackles, eight sacks and three interceptions on his way to winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and being named a unanimous All-American.

From a skill set perspective, Simmons is a true anomaly. As Pro Football Focus noted, he played more than 100 snaps at five different positions—outside linebacker, inside linebacker, slot cornerback, free safety and strong safety. PFF also gave him grades above 80 in all five facets of defense, the only player in college football to grade out so highly. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranks Simmons as the fourth-best player in the 2020 class and best overall linebacker. 

While he may never fully fit one position, teams should view his versatility as a strength rather than a weakness. Tyrann Mathieu and Darius Leonard, among others, have proven in recent years that an ability to playmake at different positions can unlock unforeseen advantages for a defense. 

If Simmons does slip, the team that winds up taking him will likely wind up getting one of the true gems of this draft.