Arizona Cardinals have solid linebacker corp according to PFF

With the rankings coming out from Pro Football Focus at every position group it is interesting to see where the Arizona Cardinals players fall.

For the linebacker rankings, in this case the off ball linebackers, they have two of the top 32 in the NFL, except one of them is moving on allegedly.

From PFF:

31. JORDAN HICKS, ARIZONA CARDINALS

Jordan Hicks enjoyed years of impressive play in Philadelphia before landing in Arizona and struggling hugely over the past two seasons with PFF grades of 61 and then 50.4. If Hicks was stuck in Arizona again, he might not make the list. But with the arrival of first-round pick Zaven Collins after Isaiah Simmons joined the team in 2020, the Cardinals have given Hicks permission to seek a trade, and he seems primed for a bounceback campaign elsewhere in 2021. Even with his struggles in the desert, Hicks has four picks and four pass breakups over the past two seasons.

32. ISAIAH SIMMONS, ARIZONA CARDINALS

Simmons was mercilessly attacked by Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers last season, but he showed down the stretch that he was beginning to put things together at linebacker having played a brand of positionless football at Clemson. If he can develop in Year 2 after that baptism by fire, he could shoot up the rankings.

Hicks being ranked in the top 32 is interesting since we have seen his decline over the last two seasons. He wasn’t very good last year, but PFF thinks it was scheme, which means they haven’t really watched him play the last two seasons.

For Simmons, it is good to see they have faith in his growth, despite playing in a bad scheme apparently.

What do you think?