The Giants continued to overhaul their defense on Thursday with a trade with the Cardinals.
New York acquired former eighth-overall pick Isaiah Simmons from Arizona for just a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft.
Simmons had been moved around the Cardinals defense since getting drafted in 2020 and never really found a home there. However, he could be another key piece for the Giants’ defensive plans.
WFAN’s Shaun Morash of Audacy’s original podcast “One Giant Step” had high praise for general manager Joe Schoen after the Giants landed the former first-round pick for such a low price.
“This is the kind of move that summarizes everything that Joe Schoen is as a general manager,” Morash said (3:55 in player above). “Always looking outside the box. Always trying to be proactive.”
Morash mentioned that the Giants had a major problem stopping the run last season and their team speed on defense wasn’t great. They’ve tried to rectify that with guys like Bobby Okereke at linebacker as well as some defensive tackle depth.
“I firmly believe that Wink Martindale, specifically, is the perfect defensive coordinator to figure out how to use Isaiah Simmons, who’s kind of all over the place position-wise and the Cardinals really tried to force feed him as a second safety for far too long,” Morash continued. “He finally had a better year last year. But I think this is a home run move by Joe Schoen. First of all, even if he fails you only gave up a seventh-rounder on an expiring contract. But if he thrives, again, Wink Martindale knows how to use guys like this.”
Simmons is the latest addition in what’s been an overhaul for the Giants on defense.
“Basically, we’re 18 months into Joe Schoen completely turning over a defense here for Wink Martindale,” Morash continued, pointing to Kayvon Thibodeaux as well as this year’s draft picks Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins, among others.
Morash continued to praise Schoen, pointing out that this is a forward-thinking move that other general managers wouldn’t make.
“This is the perfect example… A lot of general managers would look at this and understand the Arizona Cardinals are in a transition, Isaiah Simmons, again, a misused kind of player trying to find the right position. Still has flashed at times but hasn’t lived up to the first-round ability,” he said. “He would’ve been claimed on waivers – and the Giants now naturally are a little back on the waiver claim wire – I fully believe that.
“So Joe Schoen striking with a seventh-round pick and giving Arizona something speaks to his forward-thinking. Now, that might seem so simple to people, ‘Of course, you give up a seventh-round pick for Isaiah Simmons!’ A lot of GMs wouldn’t. Dave Gettleman certainly wouldn’t have done that.”
The Giants certainly appear to be in better hands with Schoen at the helm.
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