Here's why the Carolina Panthers' newest free agent acquisition, Isaiah Simmons, will be a key piece on defense for the rest of the 2025 season.
After a brutal Week 12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, the Carolina Panthers are in an intriguing position with five games left in the 2025 regular season.
At 6-6, head coach Dave Canales and his squad find themselves half a game out of the first-place spot in the NFC South, trailing behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Luckily for the Panthers, they still have yet to play the division leader this season, with two of the team’s last three games occurring against Tampa Bay.
In order for Carolina to make their first playoff appearance since 2017, it’s clear that the roster needed extra juice for the organization’s final five games. And on Tuesday afternoon, the Panthers were able to sign veteran linebacker Isaiah Simmons to help aid the defensive efforts.
Simmons, a former first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, got off to a terrific start in his first three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, tallying 258 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, and seven forced fumbles. As an all-around defensive weapon, Simmons showed tons of promise at the NFL level, despite not fitting into a traditional position.
However, this took a dramatic turn for the worse in 2023 after being traded to the New York Giants, who struggled to find a role for Simmons on defense.
In his two seasons with the struggling franchise, the talented playmaker only recorded 71 total tackles and one sack in 34 games.
Simmons would be signed by the Green Bay Packers this offseason, but would be cut prior to the start of the season.
Now, the 27-year-old finds himself on a defense that lacks consistent play in the linebacker room. Second-year linebacker Trevin Wallace continues to show signs of improvement, but it’s obvious that the former 2024 third-round pick could use a veteran to assist him.
In addition to Simmons providing a veteran presence in the build, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero could use him as a “joker”, or a player that is a hybrid linebacker/defensive end.
During his 2023 season with the Cardinals, Simmons thrived in this type of role, as he finished the year with 99 total tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions.
The Panthers' defense has made great strides recently, especially in the pass rush department. But the addition of Simmons gives Evero another weapon in his back pocket to help end the regular season on a high note.