The Arizona Cardinals are cutting their losses with versatile defender Isaiah Simmons. The team announced on Thursday that they are trading Simmons to the New York Giants for a seventh-round selection in 2024.
Simmons, who was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, saw his fifth-year option declined by the Cardinals earlier this offseason. He is set to earn $1 million in base salary in the final year of his rookie deal.
Simmons was an intriguing prospect coming out of college due to his ability to play multiple positions on defense. While this was an asset during his time with Clemson, earning him ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, it became a problem in the NFL.
In his first three years as a pro, Simmons was listed as a linebacker but also lined up at the defensive back positions. He failed to find consistency at either position, and his production suffered as a result. This is why he decided to switch to the safety position this offseason and exclusively play there moving forward.
Since the Cardinals are already stocked at the safety position, it made sense for them to move away from Simmons and get some salary cap relief alongside draft compensation. The Giants, on the other hand, take a low risk on a player that still has a big potential.
