10 NFL rookies who could become instant stars in 2020

Isaiah Simmons – Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals’ defense is the weakness of a team that looks set up to take a step forward and contend in the NFC West in 2020.

General manager Steve Keim made a significant move to improve their fortunes on that side of the ball by selecting Simmons with the No. 8 overall pick.

Simmons is an incredible talent with the athleticism to play linebacker, safety and occasionally cornerback. It is extremely ambitious to expect him to instantly engineer a defensive resurgence for the Cardinals, but there is recent history of a player with similar versatility and physical gifts becoming a star as a rookie.

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James, who somehow slid to the 17th overall pick in 2018, quickly proved those who passed on him wrong by enjoying a rookie campaign that ended with him being named a first-team All-Pro.

Simmons can thrive in coverage in the intermediate area and downfield. He was a force against the run for Clemson while his athleticism also enabled him to burst into the backfield as a pass rusher and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

For him to replicate James, the Cardinals will have to figure out the best way to make use of his versatility. Success in doing so could see Simmons become one of the most influential players in the league’s best division.