Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons landed at No. 2 in ESPN’s top 10 defensive tackle rankings for 2026, tying his career-high mark on the list. 

But now Big Jeff can add a new reason why he isn’t ranked in the top spot at his position. 

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams claimed the No. 1 spot in the rankings, which were voted on by NFL executives, scouts, and coaches, and written up by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 

Simmons, who posted career highs across multiple statistical categories last season while playing on a 3-win Titans team, was edged out by a player whose national recognition looks like a mirror image of himself, just four years older and carrying a Super Bowl ring.

Williams and Simmons are eerily similar players. 

Our guy Ryan Roberts texted me in reaction to this ranking saying Williams is “one of the quietest elite players in the league overall.” 

That description could apply to either guy. The difference between No. 1 and No. 2 on this list has nothing to do with individual production and everything to do with team success.

The Super Bowl bump decides the tiebreaker

Simmons held the No. 2 spot on this same list a few years ago, back when the Titans were actually winning. Now Tennessee has won six games over the last two seasons, including just three last year. 

The Seahawks won three games after the regular season alone, capturing a Super Bowl title along the way.

That’s the tiebreaker. That’s what separates these two players in the eyes of the voters.

Even the ESPN article itself laid out the case for Simmons. Career-high marks across the board. Led all NFL defensive tackles in tackles for loss. Did it on a 3-win roster. Did it while missing two games. The evidence screams No. 1, but the Super Bowl bump screams louder.

“Williams had never previously cracked the top five since this project’s inception in 2020. But he has always been a major talent, and he has maximized his contributions over the past two years in Seattle coach Mike Macdonald’s defense.

These days, he’s an absolute nightmare to block. Several offensive coaches did not hesitate to say Williams was the toughest player to guard last season.

“He was the most important player on that Super Bowl team,” an NFL coordinator said. “He’s the total package.”

Williams recorded 7.0 sacks and a 38.0% run stop win rate on his way to second-team All-Pro honors. His versatility at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds puts offensive linemen in a bind, no matter the position.”

Leonard Williams earned his flowers, too

Williams, 32, came out in the 2015 NFL Draft alongside Marcus Mariota. 

I remember those pre-draft conversations vividly from the early days of doing morning radio with Zach. 

Williams was my top choice for the Titans to draft at No. 2 overall instead of Mariota because I didn’t think the franchise was ready to build around a quarterback. I think I was right and wrong at the same time. You always need to draft the quarterback when you have the chance and the need. But Williams went to the Jets, and it took him until age 32 to crack the top spot on a list like this. He hadn’t cracked the top five in his entire career before Seattle’s championship run.

I can’t even be mad about it. Williams has been severely underacknowledged for the majority of his career. The recognition is deserved. He’s an elite player who finally got the team success to match his individual talent.

Simmons’ case is stronger, and it’s not close

You won’t change my mind. 

Simmons deserves the No. 1 spot over Williams. He had the better individual season. He’s 28 years old compared to Williams at 32. He did it without the benefit of playing on an elite defense. The Titans cycled through 28 other starters on that side of the ball last year thanks to injuries, trades, and general roster attrition. Simmons carried that weight on a team that could barely get out of its own way.

Simmons shed 20 pounds entering the 2025 campaign to enhance his quickness. After all, strength was never an issue for him. And the results were undeniable.

Simmons produced his best season, with 11 sacks on a 16.3% total pass rush win rate despite facing double-teams more than 65% of the time. That win rate ranked second among defensive tackles, while his 17 tackles for loss led all interior linemen.

He nearly earned the No. 1 spot but fell just short in the voting.

“His tape was phenomenal,” a veteran NFL defensive coach said. “And it’s even more impressive doing it on a three-win team and getting little help around him.”

Simmons also forced three fumbles and recorded 21 quarterback hits last season. He won 20 pass-rush snaps against double-teams. This body of work led to a first-team All-Pro selection and a three-year, $105.8 million extension this offseason.

Everybody has bias. Everybody has a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mentality. When a team wins the Super Bowl and a player like Williams, who has been quietly elite for a decade, is on the roster, voters can’t help but reward the winner. It’s human nature, but it doesn’t make it right.

Simmons will get his due eventually. If the Titans can build something around him and Cam Ward over the next few seasons, these rankings will sort themselves out. Until then, he’ll keep putting up elite numbers and keep getting overlooked because his team can’t win enough games to validate what the film already shows.