ARIZONA CARDINALS

Watch the moment Steve Keim called Isaiah Simmons during the NFL Draft

Apr 24, 2020, 2:36 PM

The Arizona Cardinals’ draft setup is different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nonetheless, a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s fragmented war rooms was made available to fans on Friday, the day after the Cardinals selected Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Steve Keim gave Simmons a call, letting him know that the Cardinals were going to select him as they were on the clock. He then brought team owner Michael Bidwill into the discussion.

“Congratulations, Isaiah,” Bidwill said. “I want to welcome you to the Cardinals. We’re excited. You’re a hell of a player and we’re looking forward to putting you on the field right away.”

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury, sitting in his palatial Paradise Valley home, told the versatile defender that his college defensive coordinator Brent Venables had nothing but kind words.

“Congratulations. We are so fired up, man,” Kingsbury said. “I talked to Coach Venables last week and he was raving about you, man. You’re a special talent, a special player and you’ll love it out here. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have you a part of the Cardinals.”

The Cardinals go into Friday without a second-round selection and one in the third round, 72nd overall.

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Watch the moment Steve Keim called Isaiah Simmons during the NFL Draft