Report: Cardinals agree to terms with 1st-round pick Isaiah Simmons
Jul 21, 2020, 7:30 AM | Updated: Jul 22, 2020, 8:47 am
Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers reacts against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The Cardinals have signed their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Arizona has agreed to terms with rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons on his rookie deal, the team announced Wednesday. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said it’s a four-year, $20.66 million deal that’s fully-guaranteed. It has a fifth-year club option and a signing bonus of $12.58 million.
Simmons was regarded as one of the top defenders in the NCAA as a member of the Clemson Tigers last season. Arizona selected him with the eighth overall pick in April.
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The linebacker set career highs in tackles (104), tackles for loss (16.5), sacks (8), interceptions (3) and pass deflections (8). He’s known as a versatile player, having appeared at various positions throughout the Clemson defense.
“You watch him on tape, you see him play the deep middle, the deep half. You see him play in the box, you see him blitz, rush the passer … We call that kind of player an ‘eraser’ in this league,” GM Steve Keim said on a Zoom call Thursday.
“Really feel like he’s a really unusual, unique, dynamic player, a guy who does multiple things for you,” Keim added. “It’s my 22nd draft in the NFL. I don’t know I’ve scouted many players like this.”
For his efforts, he was awarded the Butkus Award, which is given to the best linebacker in the country, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a Consensus All-American.
The Cardinals are hoping Simmons can add to a defense that ranked 28th last season and had troubles limiting opposing tight ends.
