New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: LB Trenton Simpson

Trenton Simpson is another draft prospect that would look good in the middle of the Giants defense. Here's what he brings to the table.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Mar 28, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

In this story:

New York Giants

Clemson Tigers

Trenton Simpson, LB

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 235 lbs.
Class: Junior
School: Clemson
Age: 22 (01/14/2001)

Combine Measurements

Arm length: 32 ⅜”
Hand size: 10 ¼”
40-yard-dash: 4.43
10-yard-split: 1.55
Bench press: 25 reps

A former five-star recruit out of Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was the number one ranked outside linebacker recruit and the first overall graded prospect from North Carolina. He was the 26th-graded recruit in the 2020 cycle. Simpson originally committed to Auburn but later chose Clemson as his college home. His father, Timothy, was a U.S. Army Ranger serving 17 tours from 1994 to 2021; he finished his service as a Sgt. Maj.

Notables

Simpson was another highly regarded five-star recruit that took their talents to Clemson, South Carolina. Simpson was a two-time Academic All-ACC selection who was a Butkus Award semifinalist and Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist in 2022. [STATS]

He added 64 pressures and 79 STOPs through 1,474 career defensive snaps. Simpson was a chess piece in Clemson’s defense. He aligned all over the formation: MIKE, WILL, Nickel, EDGE, and handled many responsibilities admirably. He’s a good athlete who still makes frustrating mistakes on tape but has the versatility and intelligence to hone in on one position if the team that selects him so chooses to groom him in that manner.

Strengths

Very good size and broad frame - looks the part
Good overall athlete with exceptional linear speed
Excellent burst to close width - violent on contact
Change of direction is excellent while moving forward on blitz
Solid sideline-to-sideline ability - Range
Packs solid pop with his hits - a sure tackler
Very good pursuit defender from the backside
Stacks & sheds TEs well on the EDGE - locates ball carries despite less than ideal angles when on EDGE - track down ability
Has man coverage upside (one very good play against Wake Forest, carrying the No. 3 up the seam to force INC - Q3, 12:41, 3rd & 9)
Length plus athleticism assist his man coverage ability
Seems to do better recognizing underneath routes from the backside in zone
Quickly closes width on routes from the backside in zone
Shows good explosiveness coming forward as a pass-rusher on the blitz
Effective applying pressure from the EDGE and A-Gap - uses force and athleticism rather than technique (can that be developed?)
Smooth change of direction and lateral agility while twisting
Would make an ideal QB spy
Excellent motor and toughness
Wild versatility with Brent Venables and Wes Goodwin

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Weaknesses

Frustratingly over pursuits in the box - could improve on framing his tackle attempts
A lot of unconventional value - will he hold up in the box?
Has a lot of areas to improve on as a true linebacker in the box
Took many missteps and ran himself out of plays - key & diagnosis needs to improve
Had questionable reads and issues with discernment of angles while in the box
While at apex/overhang, was inconsistent with reacting to what he saw
Not a refined blitzer - a bull in a china shop
Miscommunications in match and zone coverage
Marginal feel for routes behind him in zone coverage - must better coming forward
Only one year with over 210 snaps in the box - raw

Summary

Trenton Simpson is an explosive athlete with experience wearing many hats for Clemson’s defense. He looks the part and is a physical player at his best coming forward as a blitzer or as a quarterback spy. Potential as a solid man coverage player is easily within his range of outcomes, and he’s solid in zone coverage with routes in front of him but struggles with miscommunications and routes behind him in zone.

Simpson didn’t consistently stack & shed within the box and position himself advantageously to take appropriate angles as a box defender - there were some frustrating missteps on tape. Still, few linebackers have his athletic profile, length, and potential. Simpson is still a raw player for a traditional LB, which may not be his ideal role in the NFL.

However, a team with a more positionless, multiple-front defense that likes to blitz would benefit with Simpson around the program. He’s not quite refined at LB, nor is he technically sound as a pass-rusher, but there are potential, traits, and a work ethic that suggests he’ll scratch the surface of his possibilities. He would be a good fit with the Giants, but 25 is too rich, in my opinion.

GRADE: 6.25