What Aaron Donald's contract extension means for Jeffery Simmons

Defensive tackles everywhere rejoiced as the news of Aaron Donald’s extension reverberated around the NFL. Donald’s two-year extension worth $60 million with the Los Angeles Rams not only sets the record for the most expensive non-QB contract in NFL history, but it also sets the market for some of the game’s top interior defensive linemen. […]

Jack Gentry
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Tennessee Titans Los Angeles Rams DL Defensive linemen DT Jeffery Simmons Aaron Donald contract paid money extension

Defensive tackles everywhere rejoiced as the news of Aaron Donald’s extension reverberated around the NFL. Donald’s two-year extension worth $60 million with the Los Angeles Rams not only sets the record for the most expensive non-QB contract in NFL history, but it also sets the market for some of the game’s top interior defensive linemen.

Tennessee Titans DL Jeffery Simmons is one player who is likely to benefit from Donald’s lucrative deal.

After a dominant 2021 season, recording 8.5 sacks and 12 TFLs – not including his three-sack performance against the Bengals in the playoffs, the Titans opted to pick up the fifth-year option on Simmons.

Though the A.J. Brown trade serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed until the ink dries, extending Simmons has to be near the top of the Titans’ priorities. The NFL is a league in which talk is cheap and loyalty is rare. But by choosing to trade Brown, the team’s actions imply that Simmons will be the next Titan to secure the bag.

What might a Simmons extension look like? Well, I’m glad you asked. Here is a look at the NFL’s top 5 highest paid defensive tackles, per Spotrac:

  1. Aaron Donald (LAR): 3 years / $95 million ($31.67m AVG)
  2. Deforest Buckner (IND): 4 years / $84 million ($21m AVG)
  3. Chris Jones (KC): 4 years / $80 million ($20m AVG)
  4. Jonathan Allen (WSH): 4 years / $72 million ($18m AVG)
  5. Vita Vea (TB): 4 years / $71 million ($17.75m AVG)

Simmons, who is playing on his rookie contract, is set to make just north of $2 million in 2022, making him one of the NFL’s most valuable players on a production per dollar basis. The Titans have a handful of team-friendly deals on the defensive side of the ball, but Simmons’ takes the cake.

With another productive season in the trenches — barring any injury setbacks — Simmons is likely to receive a contract that exceeds $20 million per year whenever the Titans opt to lock him up.

Interior defensive linemen with the physical attributes and on-field production of Simmons do not grow on trees, so he is likely to cost the Titans a pretty penny. With the exception of the Brown trade, General Manager Jon Robinson prefers to keep homegrown talent in house.

At the age of 24, Simmons’ best years are ahead of him. He is already establishing himself as a top 5 player at his position, but a double-digit sack season in ’22 will only cement his place among the NFL’s most impactful players on the defensive side of the ball. And his contract will reflect exactly that.

Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports

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