ESPN makes contract projection for Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons
The Tennessee Titans extended edge rusher Harold Landry this offseason and they traded wide receiver AJ Brown (who was looking for a contract extension) to the Philadelphia Eagles. That means defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is the next Titans star in line for an extension. Simmons was the No. 19 overall selection by Tennessee in the […]
The Tennessee Titans extended edge rusher Harold Landry this offseason and they traded wide receiver AJ Brown (who was looking for a contract extension) to the Philadelphia Eagles.
That means defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is the next Titans star in line for an extension.
Simmons was the No. 19 overall selection by Tennessee in the 2019 NFL Draft. The former Mississippi State standout reached the Pro-Bowl this past season after totaling 54 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Simmons has quickly solidified himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL.
The Titans picked up Simmons' fifth-year option earlier this offseason, but the talented defensive lineman will almost certainly be extended in the not-so-distant future.
ESPN took a shot this week at predicting what Simmons' extension with the Titans will look like. They think Simmons will wait until after Los Angeles Rams superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald signs a new deal (expected some time this offseason) before resuming negotiations with Tennessee.
Once that happens, ESPN feels like Simmons will receive an extension worth $110 million over five years ($22 million per year). They predict that Simmons will get $70 million in guaranteed money.
Simmons may not have been a household name prior to the 2021 season, but he definitely should be now after a dominant campaign that extended into the Titans' brief playoff appearance, where he sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow three times in a narrow 19-16 defeat. Simmons tore his ACL just two months prior to the 2019 draft, but has already demonstrated why he remained a top-20 draft selection with rare strength and explosiveness off the line.
Simmons is one of just seven interior defenders with more than 100 quarterback pressures over the last two seasons, landing at sixth with 103. The current five highest-paid interior defenders in the NFL — along with Cameron Heyward, whose deal ranks ninth and was signed when he was 31 years old — round out the group. There is no reason Simmons won't join this group of elite interior pass-rushers from a financial standpoint as well.
Extending Simmons is undoubtedly a priority for the Titans. It's not a question of "if" a deal gets done, it's "when" a deal gets done.
The Titans would be wise to get it done sooner rather than later. They don't need another AJ Brown-like situation on their hands.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
