Think of a baseball utility player who can pitch, steal bases, and hit home runs—all before the seventh-inning stretch. Now imagine that Swiss Army knife mentality on an NFL defense. The Packers, always hunting for chess pieces, might’ve found their next movable asset. Cue the whispers from Lambeau’s tundra: Something’s brewing, and it’s not just cheese curds. On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Packers are hosting free agent young linebacker Isaiah Simmons for a visit.
At 26, Simmons carries the pedigree of a former No. 8 overall pick (2020) and the intrigue of a player still chasing his NFL breakout. Green Bay’s defense, transitioning under coordinator Jeff Hafley, craves versatility. Simmons? He’s got more roles than a Coen Brothers film.
Mystery Free Agent Visit Sparks Buzz Around Packers’ Defensive Plans
From Clemson Phenom to NFL Nomad
Simmons’s resume reads like a highlight reel stuck on shuffle. At Clemson, he won the 2019 Butkus Award as college football’s top linebacker. The Cardinals drafted him as a hybrid weapon, but Arizona traded him to the Giants in 2023 for a seventh-round pick—roughly the value of a used kicking net. Last season, Simmons played just 17% of New York’s defensive snaps but blocked a game-sealing field goal, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
“He’s a freak of nature, and he’s blessed for the talents that he’s got,” Giants’ cornerback Dru Phillips said. “In the spring, I was looking at him and thinking, ‘How is he going to do this?’ He’s just so big, but you see him out there covering guys like (receiver) Wan’Dale Robinson and whatnot. It’s surprising.” Meanwhile, Green Bay’s linebacker room lacks star power.
#Giants free agent LB Isaiah Simmons is visiting the #Packers today, source said.
An intriguing potential addition, Simmons has played for NYG for the past two seasons. A 2020 No. 8 overall pick by the #AZCardinals. pic.twitter.com/5cqn9BqaDa
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 14, 2025
And there you have Simmons, a 6’4”, 239-pound athlete who ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 Combine. His 1,316 career snaps in the box and 792 in the slot scream flexibility. Hafley’s scheme demands linebackers who can cover, blitz, and diagnose plays. Simmons hasn’t mastered one role, but he’s dabbled in all. “In our minds, he would be a first-, second-down nickel and then playing money [dime linebacker] on third down,” ex-Giants coordinator Shane Bowen said on Hard Knocks.
Simmons by the Numbers
- 84 games: 42 starts, 8.5 sacks, 5 INTs, 9 forced fumbles.
- 2024 snaps: 17% defense, 33% special teams.
- PFF special teams grade: 88.2.
Simmons’s raw tools are undeniable. Yet his production—21 tackles last year—mirrors a sports car stuck in traffic. The Packers wouldn’t need him to start. Instead, he’d bolster special teams and compete for snaps behind Quay Walker. General manager Brian Gutekunst loves reclamation projects. Remember Rasul Douglas?
A Low-Risk, High-Reward Gamble
Signing Simmons would likely cost veteran-minimum money. For comparison, Green Bay inked Kristian Welch to a similar deal this offseason. Simmons’ ceiling? A gadget player who unlocks creative packages. His floor? A core special teamer with highlight-reel potential. Think less Charles Woodson, more Micah Hyde—a jack-of-all-trades stabilizing the margins.
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” said Seneca. Is Green Bay the right place for Simmons to finally cash in? Or will his career remain a puzzle missing a few pieces? And can the young linebacker Isaiah Simmons revive his potential in Titletown? The answer, my friend, lies in the future.
Main Photo: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic
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