2027 NFL Scouting Report: Colin Simmons

Prospect Summary:

For the NFL, there is a lot to like about Simmons. He is an instinctive defender with excellent read-and-react skills to provide his defense with splash plays and get the ball back for the offense. Simmons is an intelligent, natural football player who can wreck an offense's game plan. On top of his talent between the ears, Simmons has a great skill set with size, speed, and athleticism to compete at the highest level.

As a pass rusher, Simmons has some versatility to rush the quarterback from a variety of spots and methods. He shows the pure speed and athleticism to speed rush off the edge standing up or with his hand in the ground. Simmons has a quick first step and can run the arc around offensive tackles to get to the quarterback. He also shows strength and length to shed blocks with the burst to close ground quickly when he gets free. Simmons is superb at playing contain on the edges, reading the quarterback, and then firing his gun to chase down the quarterback as the play evolves. Simmons is a special pursuit defender with impressive instincts to go for the strip and change the game with a forced fumble. For the NFL, it would help him to continue to improve and diversify his pass rushing moves.

Simmons also shows some flexibility to drop into pass coverage. He is natural in space, and gets good depth in his drop. While he probably won’t be a man coverage linebacker to go one-on-one with a receiving tight end, he is capable of playing zone in the short to intermediate part of the field, picking up targets who come into his area, and defending the check-down.

In the ground game, Simmons is a quality defender. He uses his length and strength to take on blocks while showing a nice ability to shed. Simmons is dynamic with his read-and-react skills and burst to fire into the backfield to blow up runs in the backfield. Simmons should be a solid edge defender in run defense as a pro.

In the NFL, Simmons has the makings of an impact player. He could be a dangerous outside linebacker that causes disruption and produces as a pass rusher. Next April, he will probably be a highly coveted prospect.