NASHVILLE — Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons will be a focal point of the Tennessee Titans' future. General manager Ran Carthon ensured that would be the case, giving Simmons a four-year extension according to ESPN's Turron Davenport.

Big Jeff cashed in.

The deal is worth a reported $94 million has $66 million in guarantees and a $24 million signing bonus. Tennessee made Simmons, 25, the second highest paid interior defensive lineman by average annual value behind only seven time First-Team All-Pro Aaron Donald. 

"Titans Nation," Simmons said on Twitter. "Thank you for the last 4 years! I am so grateful for you guys…But we are not done yet, dammit! LFG!!!! We have so much work to do!"

Simmons extension is the latest in a line of contracts that have either reset the market at a player's position or come close to top-of-market under Amy Adams Strunk as controlling owner in Tennessee. This bears noting for no other reason than to dispel lazy narrative that exists around the club and its proprietorship. The Titans (and Oilers) franchise might have had an earned reputation of being cheap in previous generations.

Strunk has consistently shown that she is willing to both pay and acquire her team's top talent, however.

1- Jurrell Casey

Then-GM Jon Robinson did with Casey back in July of 2017 what Carthon just smartly did for Simmons: recognize their worth.

Tennessee signed Casey to a four-year, $60.4 million extension after the defensive tackles second consecutive Pro Bowl season. That deal would put the 2011 third-round pick's total cash earnings with the Titans at $63.53 million in nine seasons with the team. Casey, and his contract, were traded to the Denver Broncos in March of 2020 for a seventh-round pick.

2- Taylor Lewan

Like Casey, Robinson did not take left tackle Taylor Lewan with the 11th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. 

That was done under a previous Tennessee administration. They did, however, give Lewan the richest contract in league history for an offensive lineman in the Summer of 2018. The Titans doled out a five-year deal worth $80 million with $50 million guaranteed to keep Lewan in Nashville.

Carthon released Lewan last month with one year remaining on that five-year deal. The tackle's earnings in total cash came to $82.1 million over the course of his nine seasons with Tennessee. 

3- Kevin Byard

Robinson pulled an All-Pro out of MTSU in the third round of the 2016 Draft, brining safety Kevin Byard to Nashville from just down the road in Murfreesboro.

A First-Team All-Pro in his initial season as a full-time starter, Byard complied 12 interceptions over the course of two seasons. The production helped him cash in with the Titans, who signed Byard to a five-year, $70.5 million extension in July 2019. Byard's contract has been restructured several times and the safety was reportedly asked to take a pay cut earlier this offseason. Byard is set to count for $19.62 million against Tennessee's 2023 cap and has earned $47.5 million in total cash during his seven seasons.

4- Harold Landry

The 26-year old outside linebacker had the best single season of his career in 2021 and got rewarded for it last offseason. 

The Titans signed Landry to a massive five-year, $87.5 million extension with $52.5 million guaranteed. Landry was also set to receive $20.5 million in the first season of his new deal, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Unfortunately for both Tennessee and Landry, the former second-round pick tore his ACL the week before the Titans 2022 season was set to begin. 

Tennessee has paid Landry $28.01 million in five seasons with the team.

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