3 Prospects the Cleveland Browns could draft in 2020
By Joseph Cantz
Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker, Clemson
Clemson football is coming off a championship-winning season that saw several of their players drafted in the first round of this past draft. That trend should continue next year having plenty of prospects on both sides of the ball becoming draft eligible. One of them that should be available to the Browns is linebacker Isaiah Simmons.
A converted strong safety, Simmons is a rare athlete that has explosive physical abilities. His physicality is especially evident when playing the run. He has the ability to plug the gaps and meet the runner at the point of attack. Simmons then uses his physicality to overpower the ball carrier and often stop them in their tracks.
When he’s asked to play the pass, he calls upon his safety experience to body up tight ends and has the hands to compete for the ball in 50-50 situations. The issues come from lack of experience for Simmons. He came to Clemson as a strong safety and only converted to linebacker this past season.
There will be a learning curve, as there is with anyone learning a new position. But the fact that Simmons is already sticking out in a linebacker class that he just joined is extremely promising. If the Browns want to take a talented linebacker who’s going to blast up draft boards, Isaiah Simmons is a guy to consider. Plus, if Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson work out, Simmons could be another addition to a revamped linebacker group.