8. Arizona Cardinals – Original Pick: Isaiah Simmons
Isaiah Simmons came into the draft as debatably the most hyped up prospect on the board. Simmons’ ability to be a hard hitting linebacker and a ball hawking safety was hard to ignore. Simmons concluded his Clemson career credited with 253 tackles (28.5 for loss), 10.5 sacks, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 1,856 career snaps over 44 games.
Simmons rookie season didn’t go how the Cardinals had hoped. Don’t get me wrong, he showed athleticism that cannot be taught and the potential is still there, but he really struggled to get comfortable and to find his role.
New Pick: Derrick Brown
As we discussed earlier, Derrick Brown had a very solid rookie season. Nothing he did jumped out on the stat sheet but it didn’t take very long for Brown to toss around opposing offensive lineman and make his presence felt.
While Brown’s rookie season could’ve gone better, there’s no doubt that he has one of the highest ceilings out of anyone in this draft class. His size, strength and potential keep him inside the top 10 in a re-draft.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – Original Pick: CJ Henderson
CJ Henderson was the clear #1 Cornerback coming into this draft. Out of the University of Florida, Henderson’s size and athleticism were viewed as one-of-a-kind. The Jaguars has obvious needs in the secondary and when Henderson was still on the board at #9, it was a no-brainer for Jacksonville.
Henderson’s rookie year wasn’t excellent statistically as he allowed an opposing passer rating of 110.2. In fairness to Henderson, cornerback is the hardest position to adjust to when making the transition from college to the NFL. Despite the sub-par stats, Henderson left an extremely positive impression on the coaching staff and they are very excited about his future.
New Pick: Jeremy Chinn
Although the Jags seem pleased with Henderson, they cannot pass on Jeremy Chinn in a re-draft. Chinn plays safety, not cornerback, but the Jags have too many needs to get picky. Chinn, who was taken in round 2, was absolutely dominant in the secondary for Carolina.
Chinn registered 117 total tackles, an interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two defensive touchdowns, a sack and five passes defended. He is the type of defender who will haunt opposing teams for years and years to come.