Will 4.43 Speed Spell Success for Trenton Simpson in the NFL?

While the 4.43 speed (40-yard-dash) Clemson’s linebacker Trenton Simpson posted at the NFL Scouting Combine is the talk of the town right how, there are major concerns that have surfaced on game film.

This is why it is so important not to fall in love with measurables, but to grind the game film.

Why?

He was much more reluctant in 2022, and reluctance doesn’t win in the NFL. It doesn’t matter if ability is there, if the player doesn’t feel like turning it on.

I walked away super disappointed from the five games I watched (embedded below). I had huge hopes for Simpson based on his 2021 game film in an earlier article, “Trenton Simpson Will Revolutionize NFL Defenses.” With the kind of speed he has, he looked like a safety in the body of a linebacker in 2021. However, I didn’t see the same player in 2022.

Whoever drafts him will have to have a special role for Simpson

This Clemson linebacker is an interesting player. He has a muscular athletic frame and he can run.

The problem is he really struggles overcoming blockers.

Inconsistency was another issue.

His best games viewed were against Wake Forest and North Carolina, but he all but disappeared against Syracuse, North Carolina State and FSU.

No doubt, it’s in him – – he especially showed it against North Carolina.

That’s the concerning part.

Whoever drafts him needs to know he can be awesome in coverage along the lines of Clevelands’ Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2021: Second-Round Pick No. 52), but he’s next to nothing against the run. They will have to place him in space, away from blockers, and hope he wants to play.

Drop off in sack production

Stats never tell the whole story, but stats do help to confirm the evaluations.

In 2022, Simpsons’ sack production fell off from 6.0 sacks in 2021, to 2.5. This goes hand-in- hand with the lower level of desire he showed on game film.

The thing that didn’t make sense was he has this 4.43 speed, but he often couldn’t get to the quarterback (QB) in time, even when he was left unblocked. Then he had a sack against North Carolina where he flew in and got QB Drake Maye, and I was like, “Where has that been?”

Other areas that dropped off

Not only was there a drop-off in Simpson’s sack production, but also he didn’t blow up screenplays and bubble routes like he did on 2021 game film.

He also wasn’t nearly as aggressive impeding releases in pass coverage.

Simpson additionally wasn’t nearly as tenacious against the run inside either even when he managed to stay clean from blockers. Often, he could only get involved once the run reached his level or further downfield. I didn’t see the same fight against blockers as well this past season.

In 2022, he looked more limited and he wasn’t nearly the playmaker. He tended to arrive more after the fact. With the drop off of desire shown on film, comes a drop in his grade too.

#22 Trenton Simpson 6-foot-3, 240 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would not select him)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust Probability: Moderate

Projected by: 68.5% (down from 74.7% on October 3) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 5, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Syracuse, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, FSU, and North Carolina (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2021 stats: 65 tackles (41 solo, 24 assists), 2 passes defended, 6.0 sacks (31 pressures on 90 pass rush attempts pff.com)

2022 stats: 73 tackles (41 solo, 32 assists), 3 passes defended, 2.5 sacks (31 pressures nfldraftbuzz.com)

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic and fast cover linebacker with a very average motor and questionable instincts. Excellent dropping into short to intermediate zones and can run with running backs, tight ends, and slot receivers anywhere they want to go downfield. Best in pass coverage. Average looking blitzing, and not always all out. Stopped cold blitzing against blockers. Below average job of using hands to disengage. Can go the wrong direction of play flow occasionally. Can let his foot off the gas on active runs and coast. Tends to end up around the pile a lot.

Final words

I’m glad I watched two seasons of his film, and not just one.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.