Where Will Trenton Simpson Be Drafted?

Trenton Simpson is a player that, at first glance, seems to have everything you want in a linebacker prospect. His athleticism is off the charts, he's played in a highly competitive program where he's been tested against elite talent, and his personality shines in interviews which leads you to believe he would be a strong team player. So why is it that, unlike teammates Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee, his first-round stock seems to be a little more questionable?

NFL Mock Draft Database, which at current count, accounts for an average of over 900 mock drafts, currently has Simpson being selected in the first round just 62.3% of the time with an average of 39th overall. If that average holds true, Trent would obviously be just outside the first round which is certainly nothing to be ashamed of, but would leave questions as to why?

Some of the issues could be his production and the fact that it did fall in key areas between his sophomore and junior campaign. He played in one less game in 2022 than the previous year but had 4 fewer sacks, 10 fewer QB hits, and 15 fewer total pressures. His quarterback rating when targeted also went up from 82.2 to 96.5.

Despite those numbers, Simpson still finished as a third-team All-ACC selection as well a Butkus Award semifinalist. It is probably fair to say that teams still feel Trent's best football is ahead of him. His elite speed, vertical, and bench press numbers gave him a 9.83 Relative Athletic Score out of 10. That combined with his character gives teams a real reason to still select him very high.

How does Trent Simpson feel about whether he should be in the first round? "I feel like I've definitely proved it," he told reporters. "There's not too many 235-pound guys running around 4.43 and jumping 40-inch verticals. I feel like you're not just drafting me to play one position. You can draft me to play D-end, linebacker, and some free safety/strong safety. I feel like I'm a first-round talent, I have been my whole life." Enough said.