Colin Simmons — 2027 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Simmons lacks the height and bulk some teams might prefer off the edge, but similar to this year's No. 2 overall pick in David Bailey, his quickness and agility makes him a nightmare for would-be blockers. A returning All-American who led the SEC with 12 sacks as a true sophomore, Simmons has the look of a top-10 selection next spring.

Simmons has the blend of size, speed and production to be a top-five selection. Here, he nearly gets squeezed out by QB-needy teams, but instead becomes the latest piece of Tennessee's rebuild.

Simmons can win with power, speed and twitch -- he was unstoppable for much of '25 and I only expect him to get better this season.

The Commanders just drafted a dynamic linebacker in Sonny Styles, and Simmons could be their next defensive playmaker. He operated mainly from a two-point stance last season and had an SEC-leading 12 sacks. Simmons can accelerate in a hurry and uses sudden movements to get free of blockers. He's a high-effort, energetic rusher who showcases strong hand swipes to clear the hands of linemen. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound edge rusher reminds me of the Falcons' Jalon Walker. Establishing counter moves is the next step in Simmons' development, as is increasing his lower-body strength to stand up better against the run.

The SEC sacks leader in 2025, Simmons announced himself as a future first-round pick as soon as he set foot in Austin two years ago. His burst and body control are outstanding, especially at his size (6-3, 245).

A former five-star out of Duncanville High School (Texas), Simmons burst onto the collegiate scene, finishing just shy of double-digit sacks as a freshman before adding 12 more as a sophomore. A quick-twitch, explosive pass rusher with relentless tenacity, he possesses rare physical tools off the edge that help offset concerns about his length and overall mass at the next level.

Similar to Leonard Moore, Simmons would have been in the mix near the top of the 2025 class alongside David Bailey and Arvell Reese. The undersized but remarkably explosive edge defender led the SEC in pressures (59) last season and earned a 91.7 PFF pass-rushing grade as a sophomore.