NFL.com names the Tennessee Titans' most underappreciated player
NFL.com recently named the most underappreciated player on each AFC roster and they chose a defensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans. And no, it's not Jeffery Simmons — no one who watches the Titans underappreciates the former Mississippi State star. NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund actually went with defensive lineman Denico Autry as Tennessee's most underappreciated player. […]
NFL.com recently named the most underappreciated player on each AFC roster and they chose a defensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans.
And no, it's not Jeffery Simmons — no one who watches the Titans underappreciates the former Mississippi State star.
NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund actually went with defensive lineman Denico Autry as Tennessee's most underappreciated player.
Frelund used various calculations/metrics, combined with players' salaries, to determine each AFC team's most underappreciated player.
Being multiple, especially on a team that values that ability in the players along its defensive front, is a huge key to Autry's value. NGS shows that he lined up on the edge on 81.7 percent of early downs and had a 7.6 percent quarterback pressure rate when doing so. On third down, he lined up on the interior on 66.5 percent of snaps and had a 9.4 percent pressure rate when doing so. Teams are increasingly utilizing the pass on first down, and interior pressure has also had an uptick in value.
Autry, who turns 32 later this summer, is entering his second season with the Titans. He spent the first four years of his career with the (then) Oakland Raiders before spending three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
In his first season in Nashville, Autry played in all 17 games while finishing with 9.0 sacks and 31 total tackles. He also had six passes defensed. Autry finished just below future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack in PFF's 2021 defensive end grades (Mack is a year younger than Autry).
Autry, who, like Simmons, went to Mississippi State, probably won't be making any Pro-Bowls during his career. But he's still a valuable player — especially considering he's only costing the Titans just over $7 million a year in annual cash.
That's what most folks would call a bargain.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
