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The Seattle Seahawks may not have needed any help in their secondary, but that didn’t stop them from selecting LSU cornerback Tharold Simon in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-2, 202-pounds, Simon is big for a cornerback, and size is exactly what head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider look for in their secondary players. This size makes Simon a great fit with the Seahawks, and he will have a chance to contribute in his rookie year.
It’s not just his size that makes him a good fit, he also has a level of confidence and swagger similar to that of the Seattle secondary known as the “Legion of Boom” by many of the fans. After watching some college film of Simon, it’s evident that he is not afraid to get in the face of an opponent after a big play or a jarring hit. The Seahawks are no strangers to trash talk, so Simon should fit right in.
Similar to Seattle’s current starters Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, Simon uses his size and strength to physically dominate smaller wide receivers. He also possesses decent speed (he posted an official 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds at the NFL Combine) to complement his size, which makes him a versatile player who can contribute early.
Based on what Simon brings to the table, I think he could take Browner’s starting spot at some point this season if Browner begins to struggle like he did at times toward the end of last season. If he does, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him thrive opposite Sherman.
Follow Connor Hutyler on Twitter @ConnorHutyler.
