2020 NFL Draft: Justin Herbert goes No. 1 in first-round NFL mock draft

Atlanta will be tempted to draft a Defensive End with Vic Beasley Jr. and Adrian Clayborn set to be free agents next year in the 2020 NFL draft. But with Chase Young more than likely long gone by the time the Falcons get to draft, the Falcons should seriously consider drafting Isaiah Simmons with the eighth overall pick.

Simmons is listed as a linebacker but actually plays a position in college that more akin to slot cornerback meets safety. While this position doesn’t appear naturally in the NFL, Simmons is one of the few players in this draft that I believe would thrive in any position you assign him.

Built similar to an NFL safety, Simmons is a lot like Chase Young. Not that they play the same position, but in the way that they are such athletic examples of a football player that they will thrive in the NFL no matter what scheme or team you put them on.

Simmons can line up as a slot cornerback and run down receivers with impeccable speed. He can run down throws near the line of scrimmage like a linebacker. He can fall back into coverage and challenge elite receivers in one on one scenarios.

He can tackle, racking up 74 total tackles this year in 11 games, and 88 tackles in 2018. He can blitz too, getting 6 sacks this year. He can get interceptions and forced fumbles, of which he has 5 forced fumbles in the last 2 years and 2 interceptions in the same period (according to Sports Reference).

With the Atlanta Falcons allowing an average of 26.2 points per game (ranked 26th according to NFL.com), which is 4 points different than their average points scored (22). Which means this team is right on the cusp of being a team that can win games. An extra turnover here, a critical stop on a drive there could be all the difference for this team.

This team was expected to do big things this year and was hoping to return to their Super Bowl form. But with a slow start on offense and a disappointing defense so far this year, the Falcons are one or two pieces on defense away from being right back in contention in 2020. Isaiah Simmons is one of those players that could help this team tip the scales in its favor.