How Does Isaiah Simmons Fit On the Green Bay Packers Roster?

Shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft concluded, the Green Bay Packers announced the signing of veteran linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons. The Cardinals selected Simmons with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Packers will be his third team as he spent the last two seasons with the New York Giants. But how does Isaiah Simmons fit on the Packers roster this year and what impact will he likely have on the team?

How Does Isaiah Simmons Fit On the Packers Roster: His Career So Far

Simmons possesses many of the traits the Packers prefer when drafting players. The Clemson alum stands 6’4” and weighs 238 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the combine before the 2020 NFL Draft, so he has great speed.

Simmons played three seasons with the Cardinals. He started seven games as a rookie before becoming a full-time starter in his final two seasons.

With the Cardinals, he played predominantly linebacker although he also saw time at safety. He intercepted four passes over three seasons and returned one for a touchdown.

After three seasons with Arizona, the Cardinals traded him to the New York Giants. He spent the last two years with the Giants but only started five games total during his time there. In 2023, he returned his only interception 54 yards for a touchdown.

The Giants did not re-sign him after the 2024 campaign. There wasn’t a big market for Simmons before the Packers signed him to a one-year deal. The terms were not disclosed.

The Issues and Skill Set

While Simmons has great athletic talent, he has proven to be a man without a position in the NFL. He’s a bit too big to be a safety and not quite instinctive enough to start at linebacker. He has played both positions in the NFL.

Simmons can play linebacker, safety and slot corner. He appears to be a jack of all trades but a master of none, however. He has not established himself as a starter at any position since turning pro.

Simmons has struggled in coverage throughout his career. According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks have completed 74.0 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Simmons over the course of his career, and they have a quarterback rating of 100.9.

Simmons does have the ability to blitz the quarterback. He’s recorded 8.5 sacks and 25 pressures in his NFL career including four sacks in 2022, his last season as a starter.

How Does Isaiah Simmons Fit On the Packers Roster: His Projected Role

The primary place Simmons will likely fit in with the Packers will be on special teams. He played 370 snaps on special teams for the Giants over the last two seasons. With his speed, size and athleticism, Rich Bisaccia should be able to have him on coverage teams, return teams, and other special teams units.

He will compete with players like Zayne Anderson and Kristian Welch for a roster spot.

The Packers could also utilize Simmons to provide depth at multiple positions on defense. He may not be good enough to start long term, but Simmons could fill in short-term if a starter gets injured. The Packers could save a roster spot or two by adding Simmons to the roster when he could fill in at safety, at slot, and at linebacker.

It is also possible that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley could utilize Simmons in specialty packages to blitz the quarterback or in specific coverage schemes.

Anybody hoping Simmons will come in and be an impact player on defense will likely be disappointed. He is unlikely to start on defense although he could be a contributing member of the defense in obvious passing situations or certain blitz packages and contribute on special teams.

Simmons is not a lock to make the Packers initial 53-man roster. But he has a chance to help the team in different ways. If he can live up to his athletic profile, he can contribute to the team’s success. But after five seasons, Simmons has likely become the type of NFL player he’s going to be. We’ll see how much of an impact he will make this season in Green Bay.