2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Trenton Simpson

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Trenton Simpson, 6-2/235 Linebacker Clemson

Trenton Simpson Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Sub-package linebacker

Extremely fast

Sideline-to-sideline speed

Pursuit run defender

Pass-coverage athleticism

Can help cover running backs, tight ends, receivers

Can run down the middle seam

Good pursuit defender

Closing quickness

Athletic

Open-field tackler

Natural build

Covers a lot of ground in zone coverage

Can break down in space

Ability to redirect

Dangerous blitzer

Could also contribute on special teams

Weaknesses:

Lacks instincts

Slow to read and react

Needs to get faster at reading his keys

Tweener linebacker/safety

Could stand to get better at taking on and shedding blocks

Not a fit to be a Mike – middle – linebacker

Summary: Clemson has had a lot of freak athletes come through the program in recent years, and Simpson will keep that trend going. He saw his first action in 2020, recording 28 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble. In 2021, Simpson recorded 65 tackles, six sacks and two passes broken up. He then totaled 73 tackles, two forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks and three passes batted during 2022.

While some in the media have projected Simpson to the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, team sources had him graded lower. The issue that stands out as the fundamental problem for Simpson is a lack of instinctveness. Simpson struggles to anticipate what an offense is trying to do and can be slow to react to get in position to contribute to stopping the play. Defensive coaches in the NFL have a term, “fire your gun,” which is when a player makes a decision to come downhill or chase down a ball-carrier. Simmons needs to do a better job of making the quick decision over when to fire his gun because he can bite on misdirection. Simpson has a great skill set, but his lack of instincts could limit how much he actually plays in the NFL.



In the modern NFL, defenses need linebackers who are capable of contributing to pass coverage. Simpson is that kind of linebacker, as he can defend against passing attacks because he covers a lot of ground in the middle of the field in zone coverage. With rare speed, athleticism and agility, Simpson has the potential to contribute in man coverage on tight ends and running backs. Simpson also showed some ability as a blitzer thanks to possessing explosive speed to hunt down the quarterback.

Simpson is a very fast as a run defender, going sideline-to-sideline, and is built well-enough to tackle. He chases down ball-carriers while having the size and strength to handle big backs. In the ground game, Simpson has excellent speed to close, is able to change tack to redirect, and is bolt of lightning to the flat on perimeter runs. However, Simpson needs to get better at taking on and shedding blocks at the point of attack.

For the 2023 NFL Draft, some team sources said they graded Simpson on Day 2 based on his skill set, because his lack of instincts has them skeptical about his ability to translate to the next level. With his lack of instincts, Simpson’s best role might be to add some weight and turn into a sub-package edge rusher like Haason Reddick.



Player Comparison: Jeremy Chinn. Team sources have compared Simpson to Chinn. Chinn is a linebacker/safety tweener who flashes some big plays but also is good athlete without a natural position. Chinn was a second-day pick in 2020, and Simpson could go on Day 2 this year during the 2023 NFL Draft.

2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern Jordan Addison, WR, USC Will Anderson, DE, Alabama Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State Steve Avila, G, TCU Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland Micah Baskerville, LB, LSU Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Brian Branch, S, Alabama Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Chase Brown, RB, Illinois Sydney Brown, S, Illinois Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisvile Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina Max Duggan, QB, TCU Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Notre Dame Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon Derick Hall, OLB, Auburn Jaren Hall, QB, BYU Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU Broderick Jones, G, Georgia Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa Will Levis, QB, Kentucky Quan Martin, CB, Illinois Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford Kendre Miller, RB, TCU Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss Cam Mitchell, CB, Northwestern Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Mike Morris, DE, Michigan Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Zion Nelson, OT, Miami B.J. Ojulari, OLB, LSU Demarvion Overshown, LB, Texas Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame Clark Phillips, CB, Utah Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas Chris Rodriguez, RB, Kentucky Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

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