Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is making sure defensive playmakers, new and old, are getting the most out of this offseason. After signing with the Packers just six weeks ago, former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons is already feeling at home in Green Bay.
"Honestly I feel like this is the most comfortable in a system I've been," said Simmons at Packers minicamp, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.
A first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2020, Simmons never found a full-time position on the field, constantly being switched from linebacker to defensive line, cornerback, and safety positions. After three seasons in Arizona, he spent two years with the New York Giants, seeing minimal playing time.
Packers may have found a way to get the best out of Isaiah Simmons
He points to his versatility to explain his lack of consistency on the field.
"Everybody wants me to do everything as opposed to letting me get really good at one thing first," he said, via Paul Bretl of ESPN La Crosse.
At 26 years old, Simmons has the potential to reshape Green Bay's defense. Running a 4.39 at the 2020 Combine, he was the fastest of all participating linebackers in the 40-yard dash. Even with just 181 snaps out of 34 games in New York, Simmons produced multiple turnovers for the Giants. He made a big enough impact to gain the attention of Jeff Hafley and potentially earn a more regular role for the Packers.
"He's letting me just lock in and learn a small portion first before we even think about expanding to anything else," Simmons said of Hafley this week.
It's reassuring to hear that the former top-10 pick isn't being thrown in the deep end and is instead getting the attention he needs to improve. If all goes well, Packers fans could see Simmons become a strong addition to the youthful linebacker group of Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, and Quay Walker.