The 2024 season was a disaster for the New York Giants, with just about everything going wrong. They ended up with a 3-14 record—bad enough to sting, but not bad enough to land the first overall pick. Nearly every part of the team underperformed.
Quarterback Daniel Jones was benched and released midseason, and the offensive line crumbled without left tackle Andrew Thomas. First-round pick Deonte Banks didn’t progress as hoped, and star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence saw his Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season cut short on Thanksgiving due to an elbow injury. The season quickly unraveled, and any plans made during training camp were abandoned.
One of those plans involved using linebacker Isaiah Simmons creatively, especially in pass coverage out of the slot. But Simmons only played 181 snaps over 12 games and never became a major defensive factor. Now a free agent, he appears headed out of New York—possibly to the Green Bay Packers, who hosted him for a visit, per Ian Rapoport.
\That path mirrors safety Xavier McKinney, who left the Giants last offseason and signed a $67 million deal with the Packers. He thrived in Green Bay, making first-team All-Pro with eight interceptions. Simmons, however, hasn’t had that kind of impact. His most notable moment in 2024 came on special teams when he blocked a late field goal to help beat Seattle in Week 5.
While Simmons has elite athletic ability, it hasn’t translated into consistent performance. His best season came in 2023 under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, where he split time between edge rusher and linebacker. Going into his sixth NFL season, Simmons is running out of chances to earn a starting role. Still, his physical tools could keep him in the league—most likely as a special teams contributor. If he’s looking for playing time, Green Bay might be the right fit, given their lack of depth at linebacker.
