Cardinals Undecided on Isaiah Simmons' Future

Prominent members of the Arizona Cardinals spoke on Simmons' future and role with the team as his fifth-year option looms large.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Arizona Cardinals have some major decisions ahead of them when it comes to things such as free agency and the NFL Draft, though the fifth-year option of Isaiah Simmons is another topic team leaders such as general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon will need to decide on this offseason.

Simmons, drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, is entering his fourth season with the Cardinals. The current CBA allows for teams to add a fifth year to a player's rookie contract. If the Cardinals decide to not do so, Simmons will become a free agent next offseason. 

"We're working through that - we're working through that," said Ossenfort at the NFL Combine. 

"The defensive staff is in their process of evaluating the roster and where guys fit and positionally where guys are gonna play. And so we have until May to make that decision and we'll make that decision when it's appropriate. So we still got some time on Isaiah. But I know Isaiah is an extremely talented player. He's big, he's long, he's fast, and I think we'll be able to find a good way to use him this year."

According to Over The Cap, Simmons' salary in 2024 would be $12.722 million. A Pro Bowl appearance would have bumped that figure up to over $17 million.

Simmons was viewed as a unicorn coming out of Clemson, possessing the ability to play nearly any position on the defensive side of the ball. Arizona has yet to truly maximize his talents and versatility, let alone find a steady home for Simmons. He transitioned to more of a nickel back after spending time as an inside linebacker. 

That's something Gannon and new defensive coordinator Nick Rallis want to figure out with the player himself. 

"I look forward to figuring that out with him and the coaches. It's not going to be 'Hey, you're stuck in this box. This is what you're doing'. We got to see what he can handle physically and mentally and know that he's a unique skill set guy and we will use him accordingly," Gannon added in Indianapolis. 

Earlier in the offseason, NFL.com's Marc Ross said he wouldn't pick up Simmons' fifth-year option.

"Coming into the draft, Simmons was touted as a Swiss Army knife-type playmaker, but he hasn't been the kind of do-everything star one might have hoped for, logging a total of 7.5 sacks and 16 passes defensed over this three seasons. The Cardinals are installing a new regime, including recently hired GM Monti Ossenfort, and at this point, I wouldn't invest in Simmons, who's started 37 of 50 regular-season games, past 2023," Ross said. 

The talent and potential still rests within Simmons, and although there's hope a defensive minded coach in Gannon can utilize him properly, the Cardinals will be forced to make a decision on his future sooner rather than later. 

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