The 2020 NFL Draft is not known for its talent or depth at the linebacker position, but there are still impact players to be found at the position.
The 2020 NFL Draft is known for its depth at quarterback, wide receiver, and on the offensive line. This year’s class of linebackers is not necessarily great in terms of top-end talent or volume, but it’s not poor either.
In today’s league, the traditional thumper at the linebacker position that is built like a tank with a neck roll and lots of eye-black is bordering on extinct along with the traditional fullback.
For us ’90s kids, it’s crazy to see such a different type of player emerging as the prototype at the linebacker position when we grew up with guys like the late, great Junior Seau, Brian Urlacher, Zach Thomas, and Ray Lewis.
The modern NFL linebacker has to be able to play all three down. They have to be able to cover, be effective at blitzing, and they have to be able to stick their nose in the mud and play the run.
It’s not easy to find guys who can do all of those things, which is why this position is being somewhat undervalued and guys who can do those things are being over-drafted a bit (see: Devin Bush, 2019).
Which players can do all (or most) of those things in the 2020 class? Which players are going to be “instant impact” players at the next level? Let’s take a look.
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
If you want to draw up the prototype for what the NFL currently covets at the linebacker position, you might not be able to come up with someone better than Isaiah Simmons.
Simmons’ skills put on paper read more like a pipe dream for a linebacker prospect than an actual player, but he’s got it all.
Simmons played pretty much everywhere in Clemson’s defense and not only was he lined up in almost every position — he played them well.
There are not many guys in college football who have lined up as an edge rusher, off-ball linebacker, deep safety, box safety, nickel corner, outside corner, defensive line, and anything else you can think of.
It’s not that Simmons is a talented athlete with no true position. It’s that Clemson knew he could match up with pretty much anyone. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney once said he thought that Simmons would be an All-Conference player on the defensive line, at linebacker, or at safety if they would have him focus on one spot.
For NFL teams, the options are endless for Simmons. He’s a weapon no matter where you put him on the field and in my mind, he’s the most likely to have an instant impact at the next level.
His size, speed, football IQ, and versatility are extremely rare. If your team is not picking in the top 10, maybe don’t bank on Simmons being available.