The NFL draft is still more than a month away and the Arizona Cardinals are still evaluating players and ranking them to prepare for when they make their selection.

But who are the best players for the No. 8 pick in the first round?

Assuming Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young and Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah are both going to be unavailable, here are my rankings for who I would select and why.

1. Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons

The more I think about it, Simmons is my favorite player here. My only concerns about him have nothing to do about him but about whether or not defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would use him right.

The Cardinals have glaring needs at inside linebacker and off the edge. They struggle to cover tight ends and running backs.

Simmons would fit in either as an edge rusher or as an off-the-ball defender. He has better length and better speed than Haason Reddick. He has actually played in coverage and has excelled at it. He is what a refined Reddick would look like.

Used off the edge, he can rush and drop in coverage, meaning Chandler Jones never has to drop. He can play inside. He can be moved out of the box to cover. If Joseph can figure out to maximize his abilities, meaning they need other players at other positions to fill in when he moves around, he is the best player. Of course, he might already be off the board.