2020 NFL Draft: 3 linebackers who could be the next Fred Warner

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 02: San Francisco 49ers Linebacker Fred Warner (54) gestures as he celebrates intercepting a pass from Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (not shown) with San Francisco 49ers Safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) during the NFL Super Bowl LIV game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL on February 2, 2020. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CLEMSON, SC – OCTOBER 12: Isaiah Simmons (11) linebacker of Clemson during a college football game between Florida State Seminoles and the Clemson Tigers on October 12, 2019, at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

Let’s start with the most obvious potential Fred Warner clone, and perhaps someone who is actually not only a similar player but a better overall athlete.

Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Simmons is a rare breed of defensive player who played almost every position in Brent Venables’ defense for the Tigers.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney once said of Simmons that he could have been all-conference as an edge player, off-ball linebacker, or safety if they would play him at any one of those positions on a full-time basis.

Simmons took snaps as a nickel defensive back, not just a roaming free safety. This kind of range for a guy his size is ridiculous:

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1211137707335749632

Unlike Warner who ran in the low 4.6 range in the 40-yard dash, we’re probably going to see Simmons run in the low 4.4 range and he diagnoses plays as fast as any linebacker or safety you will see.

By the time the Scouting Combine is over, we may see him as a unanimous top-five graded player. Not only could Simmons be the ‘next’ Fred Warner, he may re-invent the prototype altogether.

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