“Inject this into my veins.” That was the reaction from much of Cheesehead Nation last week when a mock draft over at The Draft Network pegged the Green Bay Packers moving up to 11 to draft Clemson star linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons. He’s everything Green Bay missed when they traded out of the 14th pick two years ago, passing on Derwin James. Simmons would provide speed, coverage ability, and the best playmaking linebacker the team has had since Ray Nitschke — and that’s not even hyperbole.
It would, however, be a big mistake. Or at the very least, a reckless risk, too big to justify, even (or perhaps especially) with Aaron Rodgers’ Super Bowl window slowly closing.