After securing a record-breaking extension, the Titans' defensive anchor earns national recognition for dominating the trenches despite an elbow injury and a lack of supporting pass-rush help.
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is the best defensive tackle in the NFL.
His efforts from last season proved that.
Despite playing on an injured elbow, Simmons still put up 67 total tackles, 11 sacks and 17 TFLs. Simmons revealed at a press conference this offseason that he couldn't fully extend his elbow and underwent a procedure in February to repair it.
Then, after multiple years of proving he was the best player at his position, the Titans decided it was time to pay him like it. Simmons was awarded a three-year, $105.9 million extension, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL.
He surpassed the previous amount held by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who is making $31.7 million per year over five years, per Spotrac. Simmons is now making $35.3 million per year.
He led all defensive tackles in sacks and TFLs.
No Titans have made the NFL Top 100 list yet, but Simmons got respect from CBS Sports' Pete Prisco recently. Prisco made his own NFL Top 100 list and featured Simmons as the only Titan, coming in at No. 20.
Last season, Simmons came in at No. 78 on Prisco's list.
"Playing on a bad team in 2025, he didn't get the attention he deserved for how well he played," Prisco said. "He was a dominant interior rusher and once again was tough against the run. He earned the mega deal he signed this month."
Simmons was one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, which is one of the reasons why he is just now starting to get the recognition he deserves.
Now, the Titans have realized that Simmons can't bear the weight of the Titans' pass rush on his own. Despite his best efforts, the Titans ranked 14th in the NFL last season with 42 sacks as a team.
Next to Simmons, the best options on the pass rush were Jaylen Harrell, Arden Key, Jihad Ward and Dre'Mont Jones. Other than Simmons, neither of those players finished with more than 5.5 sacks on the year.
This offseason, giving Robert Saleh the tools he needs for his defense was a priority.
On the defensive line, the Titans added John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Keldric Faulk, Jackie Marshall, Jacob Martin, Malik Herring, Solomon Thomas, Earnest Brown IV, Jordan Elliott and Jalyn Holmes.
The projected starters are Simmons, Franklin-Myers, Elliott and Johnson. "Big Jeff" has more help on the defensive line and could flourish in Saleh's system, which has been known to elevate the play of interior defensive linemen.
Hopefully, Simmons will be recognized on the NFL Top 100 list as well.
