2020 NFL Mock Draft: Redskins make QB splash, Giants grab star receiver

By Randy Gurzi | Apr 12, 2020

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide attempts to escape pressure from Marcel Brooks #9 of the LSU Tigers during the first half in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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2020 NFL Mock Draft (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

LB. Isaiah Simmons. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 32. Clemson. 8

Over the past two offseasons, the Arizona Cardinals have done a lot to change their offense. New head coach Kliff Kingsbury wanted to incorporate more of a spread offense like he ran at Texas Tech and in order to do so, he took Kyler Murray first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. That came just one season after the team took Josh Rosen in the first, but that was not Kingsbury’s guy.

This year, they added another big name as they swung an unexpected trade with the Houston Texans which brought DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. Some would say Hopkins is the best overall receiver in the NFL and the fact that he was traded away sent shock waves around the league.

As impressive as this offense looks now with Murray, Hopkins, and Christian Kirk, it won’t matter if their defense can’t stop anyone. And in 2019, that was the case. According to NFL.com, the Cardinals were dead last in yards surrendered with 402 per game and 28th in scoring as opponents averaged 27.6 points per contest against them.

Looking to improve on that side of the ball, Arizona takes one of the most physically gifted players in the class in Isaiah Simmons. A hybrid linebacker and safety for Clemson, Simmons has great size at 6-foot-4 and 238-pounds. He also boasts great speed, evidenced by the fact that he ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. Arizona’s defense can use a game-changer and that’s exactly what Simmons is.

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