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Cleveland Browns will visit with Mississippi State DT Jeffery Simmons

By Dan Justik

STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 21: Stephen Johnson #15 of the Kentucky Wildcats throws a pass as Jeffery Simmons #94 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tries to defend during the first half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 21: Stephen Johnson #15 of the Kentucky Wildcats throws a pass as Jeffery Simmons #94 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tries to defend during the first half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns will be visiting with Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons during the lead up to the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns have made it a priority to add talent to the defensive line this off-season, but they still may not be done building up the defensive front.

During Mississippi State’s pro day on Wednesday, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said he will be visiting with the Cleveland Browns at some point at the pro day, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Simmons was projected to be a first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, after tearing his ACL during training for the NFL Combine, there is a chance Simmons may slide into the second round of the draft.

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The Browns were rumored to be high on Simmons before the injury. Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com reported in early February that the “belief” was the Browns would select Simmons with the 17th overall selection.

However, since Pauline’s report, Simmons has torn his ACL and the Browns have traded their first round pick. But because of Simmons’ injury, there is a chance he could slide into day two of the draft and into the range of Cleveland’s second round pick at 49th overall.

Simmons had a breakout season during his junior season in 2018. The 21-year-old made 63 total tackles,18 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble for Mississippi State. In 2017, he had a career high five sacks.

There were already questions about Simmons’ draft stock before the injury because of an off-field incident during his freshman season. Simmons was charged with simple assault in 2016 and was suspended one game. However, Browns general manager John Dorsey has not shied away from drafting players with incidents off the field.

After the additions of Oliver Vernon and Sheldon Richardson this off-season, it is no longer a dire need for Cleveland to add a defensive linemen early in the draft. But Dorsey is likely preparing for every possibility in the draft, and that includes Simmons falling to the Browns in the second round.

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Despite the knee injury, there is a chance Simmons is still a hot commodity in the draft. If the amount of visits he reportedly has set up in the coming weeks is a sign of things to come, Simmons may not have to wait until the second day of the draft to hear his name called by Roger Goodell.

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