The Arizona Cardinals are under new leadership in 2023. General manager Steve Kiem stepped down from his position to focus on his well-being, while head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired. They were replaced by Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon, who have quite a bit of work to do when it comes to turning things around in Arizona.
One of the biggest decisions they will have to make in the coming weeks is what to do with the fifth-year option of Isaiah Simmons. Simmons was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and his fifth-year option is worth $12,722,00.
The Clemson product hasn’t quite lived up to expectations yet in his career. Coming out of college, Simmons was lauded for his versatility. He lined up all over the field for the Tigers and there was hope that he would be an athletic jack-of-all-trades at the next level as well.
While that kind of versatility is certainly an asset to have, it also led to some inconsistent play. Simmons was shuffled around the Cardinals’ defense, which kept him from playing as freely as he did in college learning so many new concepts and schemes.
But in 2022, his role was simplified. Simmons played a lot more as a box safety and slot cornerback and it resulted in him having the best season thus far of his career. He finished with a PFF overall grade of 67.9, which was a career-high.
However, when you are a holdover of a previous regime, your standing is always a little shaky. That, in part, is why Simmons is predicted to have his fifth-year option declined by the Cardinals this offseason.
Simmons is one of the tougher option decisions that will have to be made this offseason. He showed improvement in 2022, which was great to see. But, with a new coaching staff in place, his role could change once again.
Will the franchise be willing to take a chance locking him into a contract of nearly $13 million? That is certainly a hard sell, especially with the Cardinals already having a strong safety duo on Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. Also working against Simmons is the fact that the franchise double-dipped at the linebacker position, selecting Zaven Collins in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Based on his overall grade and WAR through three seasons, it is tough to justify exercising Simmons’ option at that price tag. The Cardinals would likely be best off declining it and seeing how he performs in Gannon’s system.
If he proves to be a fit, the two sides can work out a long-term deal during the 2024 offseason. If not, no harm no foul. Simmons will become a free agent next year and seek out a franchise in which his unique skill set can be put to better use.
