In hindsight, the 2020 NFL Draft is as obvious as it comes for the LA Chargers. The Chargers drafted Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick and the rest is history. After watching a Hall of Fame quarterback in Philip Rivers leave the team, the Chargers welcomed another elite quarterback into the fold.
Hindsight is always 20/20, however, and the dialogue heading into the draft was not as simple. Many fans (myself included) were hoping that Tua Tagovailoa would fall to the sixth overall pick. After all, Tua was the consensus No. 1 prospect before Joe Burrow turned in a record-setting season with the LSU Tigers.
Then there was an even sillier debate. Most fans and pundits were not sold on Herbert as a pro, opening the door for debates around whether the Chargers should even take a quarterback at all. There definitely was a chunk of the fanbase, although the minority, who fell in love with versatile linebacker Isaiah Simmons. For some, Simmons was the obvious pick over Herbert.
History has proven the Chargers made the right choice. Herbert has been one of the best quarterbacks in the sport while Simmons has failed to live up to expectations. Now on his second team, the New York Giants, Simmons is continuing his odd career trajectory as the team is seemingly preparing him to play... cornerback?
Isaiah McKenzie vs Isaiah Simmons (BATTLE OF THE ISAIAH’s) #Giants pic.twitter.com/0CwWmPzQlx
— The Giant Take Podcast (@TheGiantTakePod) July 25, 2024
Chargers not drafting Isaiah Simmons couldn't have gone any better
Simmons has failed to carve out a consistent role in the NFL thus far but the Giants are still trying to find any way to make him productive. The plan is reportedly to use Simmons as a nickelback in the Giants' defense, which is a far cry from the linebacker he was originally drafted to be.
This really puts into perspective how lucky the Chargers were that Herbert fell to the sixth pick and how disastrous it could have gone if the Bolts tried getting cute with the draft.
Even if the Chargers wouldn't have traded down for Kenneth Murray and picked Jalen Hurts in the second round, chances are the last four years would have been awful and Hurts would not be regarded in the same way.
Simmons is a cautious reminder for Chargers fans to consider when falling in love with certain prospects because of physical traits during the draft process. Sometimes the "boring" route is the best route and the 2020 NFL Draft is proof of that.