How does the narrative that Simmons is going to stop our tight end problem fit with him playing linebacker?
The TE's that toast us aren't in line guys leaking out late that a linebacker might pick up. Guys like Kittle line up wide in the slot and linebackers don't line up over guys.
When we played the Niners last year we would bring Budda down from free safety to line up in man on Kittle (he got murdered mostly) and put Deonte Thompson at FS.
In other words, the strong safety picked up that duty.
Against teams like the Niners, Seahawks and Rams. All who have very good receiving tight ends who play out of the slot, how is Simmons playing linebacker and covering those guys? He'd have to come out of linebacker most of the time.
Next year we also play Ertz, Hockenson, Engram, Jarwin, whoever Pats have a TE, etc etc
So just play Simmons at SS. He can cover TE's or big slots when they line up in the slot. Come down into the box as a 3rd LB on obvious run plays.