Mark Simoneau – LB – Kansas State
2000 Draft / 3rd Round / Atlanta Falcons
Mark Simoneau enters the 2008 offseason as an unrestricted free agent and is rumored to be a target of the Miami Dolphins as it begins its renaissance under the Big Tuna. Taken in the linebacker rich 2000 draft by Atlanta it is difficult to argue his draft position given the competitors taken ahead of him. He would last only three seasons with the Falcons starting only nine games and recording 54 total tackles during that time.
Acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2003 season he turned in his best season as a pro recording 100 tackles and two sacks while starting all 16 regular season games. His production would fall off the next season as he was replaced as the starting middle linebacker when Philly reacquired LB Jeremiah Trotter. After a disappointing 2006 season where he made no starts and recorded only 36 tackles Simoneau was traded along with a conditional 4th round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for WR Donte Stallworth.
Simoneau’s team hopping isn’t uncharacteristic of the members of his draft class. Of the 6 linebackers drafted in the first round of the 2000 draft only two are currently with the teams that drafted them including Chicago’s Brian Urlacher (New Mexico, 1st, 9th overall) and Tennessee’s Keith Bulluck (Syracuse, 1st, 30th overall). However, many of the trades or free agency departures had more to do with contract issues than with on the field performance.
John Abraham (South Carolina, 1st, 13th overall) forced his way out of New York due to his displeasure with the Jets refusal to rework his rookie deal eventually ending up in Atlanta. Others such as Julian Peterson (Michigan State, 1st, 16th overall), Rob Morris (BYU, 1st, 28th overall) and Marcus Washington (Auburn, 2nd, 59th overall) went on to sign rich free agent deals with new teams.
His career 369 tackles and seven sacks pales in comparison with some of the more notable alumni in his draft class. However, in a relatively weak free agent linebacker crop Simoneau should have plenty of options should he decide to depart the Big Easy. Lance Briggs of the Bears and Carlos Dansby of the Cardinals headline the free agent class, however, neither will come cheap. Briggs is available to the highest bidder after playing 2007 under the franchise tag. Dansby, however, did get hit with the non exclusive franchise tag by the Cardinals and any team interested in signing him would have to give up two first round draft picks. Therefore, any teams looking for an intermediate value linebacker to fill a need may be interested in Simoneau.
For a table of all of the players selected at his position in this draft click here.
Statistics courtesy of nfl.com.
