2020 NFL Draft: 5 first-round targets for the Carolina Panthers

3. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

This is where luck needs to come into play for the Carolina Panthers. Isaiah Simmons seems to be long gone in most mock drafts with him going to the New York Giants. However, there could be some trade scenarios where the Giants trade down and take one of the top offensive linemen in the draft.

If this scenario plays out, it could leave Simmons up for grabs with Carolina on the clock. There is no way I pass on this talent if I am the Panthers. They have holes all over the backend of their defense and Simmons is as versatile as they come.

Isaiah Simmons is unlike any other prospect I’ve ever seen. He can man the middle as a MIKE linebacker or he could even come off the edge as a pass rusher or he could line up in the secondary as a safety/nickel. He’s no tweener either.

No matter where coaches ask him to play he will NOT be a liability. He can cover tight ends if you need him to and he could even cover slot receivers. You want him to play single high? He’ll do that too even though he has no reason to. Isaiah Simmons is the high impact plater that every team wants in their defense and he’s the type of player that the Carolina Panthers need. The closest comparison I could think of is Jamal Adams, who is a safety.

Like Adams, Simmons could create pressure as a Blitzer, but he’ll cause disruption at just about any position he’s lined up at. Simmons ran a 4.39 40 yard dash at the scouting combine and he weighed in at 238 pounds. That is just a freak athlete.

His numbers in 2019 were also absurd. He had 104 total tackles, 16.5 for loss and eight sacks. He also had eight passes defended and three interceptions with four forced fumbles. He literally had a huge impact in every aspect of his game. If Isaiah Simmons goes to the Carolina Panthers at No. 7, it would be the biggest steal of the 2020 NFL Draft.