With the regular season opener right around the corner, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen made a trade to acquire former eighth overall pick Isaiah Simmons to add to Wink Martindale’s defense.
The athleticism and versatility that Simmons brings to the table fits perfectly with the Giants’ defensive system.
After having a tough time finding his role with the Arizona Cardinals since being drafted back in 2020, Simmons is excited for a fresh start in a new defensive system. The Giants certainly hope to get the most out of the former 1st round pick.
Although there is uncertainty about where he will play on Big Blue’s defense, Simmons has no concerns about Wink Martindale’s plans for him.
“I have no concerns. With what Wink’s vision is, I have full trust in him. He is a great coordinator, and he knows how to utilize his players to their best ability. I have no worries of what his plan is for me,” Simmons told reporters.
Martindale had a lot of success in his first year with Big Blue. His success in 2022 led to interest from other teams for head coaching vacancies. Luckily for the Giants, nothing materialized and they have Wink back with the team.
Despite being traded so close to the season, Simmons expects to be ready for Week 1. Martindale will likely move Simmons around the defense more frequently with time as the veteran continues to get acclimated in his system.
“I’m here to help the team in any way I can. I don’t have a problem with linebacker; that’s what I played in college. That’s what I played my first two years in the league, so I have no issues with it. Like I said, I’m ready to dive into that and get into all of the details so I can perform to my best ability,” Simmons said.
Head coach Brian Daboll has already expressed excitement regarding the explosiveness and athletic ability the Simmons addition brings to the team. Judging by Martindale’s excitement when the Giants selected Deontae Banks, the defensive coordinator is just as excited with the addition of Simmons.
