Isaiah Simmons could lose $15 million because of “Bama bump”
Clemson football product Isaiah Simmons is getting the ACC treatment heading into the Thursday night NFL draft.
We all know no one takes the ACC seriously and even when people talk about Clemson football, it is usually followed by “but”. We all know SEC players get the SEC bump and we are all familiar with the “Alabama bump”. If you needed further proof, look no further than Henry Ruggs III and Isaiah Simmons.
Ruggs is five inches shorter than Tee Higgins and was a lot less productive in college than Tee but because he ran a sub 4.3 40 at the combine and yet to Alabama, he is getting a huge bump and maybe the first receiver taken in the draft.
Isaiah Simmons is proof that not going to an SEC school will hurt you as well. If Simmons had gone to any other school – Alabama, LSU, Southern Cal, UGA, Ohio State, Michigan, etc., he would be the top-rated player in the draft and teams would be salivating to get him in on their defense.
Why? Because he has the size and strength to match up with every elite tight end in the game and the speed to shut down every runningback in the passing game. Instead, he is going to fall to somewhere between fifth and 10th in the draft because he played for an elite ACC school, who allegedly hasn’t played tough opponents in five years.
Sure, you can say to yourself, that is not a big deal, it’s only a few spots, but I would caution you to look at the money line difference.
The second overall pick in the 2020 draft will make more than $35 million guaranteed, with a signing bonus of $23 million. The fifth overall pick will make $31 million with a signing bonus of $20 million and the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft will make $20 million with a $12 million signing bonus.
Everyone is worried about the monster in Clemson, SC. dark. Next
That is a large drop because one of the most talented defenders to ever play the game did not go to a school in one of the most overrated football conferences America has to offer. Sure, you can claim it is no big deal, but you also aren’t in line to miss out on $15 million over the next five years either.