5 LBs the NY Giants should monitor ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
1. Clemson LB Trenton Simpson
There may not be a more tantalizing prospect in this year’s draft class than Trenton Simpson. He may not be as ready Day 1 as Campbell or as exciting to watch as Pace, but his skillset could make him one of the premier linebackers in the NFL one day. Simpson isn’t a perfect prospect, but his versatility, athleticism, and all-around playing style add up for what could be an incredible player in the league.
It’s hard to sum up Simpson’s style, as he is incredibly solid at everything with so much room to grow at just 22 years old. Last year at Clemson, Simpson racked up 68 combined tackles, 16 pressures, and two sacks. The combination of speed, size, strength, and pure athleticism that Simpson has is something we don’t see everyday in a linebacker.
Simpson is easily the most versatile LB in the class. Having played 351 snaps in the slot over the course of his three seasons in college, his speed and technique in coverage quite literally allows him to effectively cover some receivers. While this may not translate immediately to the NFL as he adjusts to faster, more physical players, he certainly has the chance to be a monster in coverage.
In 284 coverage snaps at Clemson last season, Simpson allowed 23 receptions on 36 targets for 196 yards and two touchdowns, making for easily the best coverage stats out of all of the previously mentioned linebackers. However, this does not mean he is the best, as that title still likely belongs to Campbell, but Simpson certainly has the potential to take that thrown.
Simpson is an intriguing linebacker prospect. He is incredibly solid in every aspect of the position, yet does not necessarily exceed at just one thing. He doesn’t have any major flaws other than some issues with getting off of blocks, but it’s not a big enough of a concern to hinder where he goes in the draft.
